And the company behind it – Stereoscopic Optical Systems – says that should lead to a significant reduction in litigation threat.
Surgeons who have seen and used the system in early trials say it is much lighter and easier to manipulate than the conventional approach to 3D endoscopes and laparoscopes and initial reports say it is far less tiring.
During surgical training or post-operative analysis a video recording will give freeze-frame images and a 3D view without flickering, unlike current 3D systems which show a single left or right eye image only, with potential shudder, but not in 3D.
Hospital surgical trials are to resume shortly.
Instead of using two electronically- or mechanically-linked cameras and flickering two sets of images, the company says its new JC3D system shows images to both eyes at the same time by incorporating two views from adjacent lenses that are manipulated into a single camera by passive optics.
Conventional 3D imaging often involves co-ordinated twin camera arrangements, twin projectors, or very complex methods of displaying stereoscopic images to each eye in turn, or showing left and right eye images alternately to the same camera.
Russell Wilson, managing director of Stereoscopic Optical Systems Ltd, says “Our passive optical arrangement produces continuous images in a simpler way – which improves image quality and brings costs down for equipment manufacturers.”
Other applications for the system include inspection in the aviation, nuclear, industrial, undersea exploration and oil and gas sectors.
The system is the result of 15 years of research and development by a team led by inventor John Christian, and Stereoscopic Optical Systems now hopes to stimulate collaborative or joint-venture interest.
Photography by Phil Dowding. www.stereoscopic3dimages.com
