Augmented reality displays for endoscopic orientation and navigation

In endoscopy, where access to the operative site is limited, endoscopic manipulation is guided by the restricted view of the operative site displayed on a video monitor. When the displayed anatomy is not immediately distinguished by any recognisable features or landmarks, or when the image is rotated with respect to the surgeon's perspective of the operative site, surgeons often become disoriented. The objectives of this research are to examine cognitive factors related to spatial disorientation in endoscopic manipulation, to determine the informational requirements of the surgeon to effectively perform mental rotations and mappings, and, to augment the endoscopic display with this information to facilitate navigation and orientation during endoscopy.