SYSTÈME POUR FOURNIR UN GUIDAGE VISUEL POUR DIRIGER UN EMBOUT D'UN DISPOSITIF ENDOSCOPIQUE VERS UN OU PLUSIEURS REPÈRES ET AIDER UN OPÉRATEUR LORS D'UNE NAVIGATION ENDOSCOPIQUE
Landmark directional guidance is provided to an operator of an endoscopic device by displaying graphical representations of vectors adjacent a current image captured by an image capturing device disposed at a tip of the endoscopic device and being displayed at the time on a display screen, wherein the graphical representations of the vectors point in directions that the endoscope tip is to be steered in order to move towards associated landmarks such as anatomic structures. Navigation guidance is provided to the operator by determining a current position and shape of the endoscope relative to a reference frame, generating an endoscope computer model according to the determined position and shape, and displaying the endoscope computer model along with a patient computer model referenced to the reference frame so as to be viewable by the operator while steering the endoscope.
