Patent ID: 9019345
Filing Date: 2015-04-28
Classification: A61B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving, by a controller in a surgical system, a command to switch from a first imaging mode during a surgical procedure to a second imaging mode during the surgical procedure, wherein the first and second imaging modes have different non-zero illumination levels, wherein the first imaging mode has a reduced visible illumination output level of a visible illumination source relative to a normal visible illumination output level of the visible illumination source in the second imaging mode, wherein in the first and second imaging modes, scenes are acquired for display, wherein the first and second imaging modes each have a normal level of a display output gain of a display of the surgical system, and wherein an overall scene luminance of an acquired scene in the first imaging mode is less than an overall scene luminance of an acquired scene in the second imaging mode; delaying, by the controller, the switch to the second imaging mode until after a visible illumination output level of the visible illumination source has changed from a lower visible illumination output level to a higher visible illumination output level, wherein the delaying further comprises lowering the display output gain of an output gain control unit from the normal level of the first imaging mode, wherein the output gain control unit is coupled between an automatic gain controller and the display; and switching, by the controller, to the second imaging mode after the output level of the visible illumination source has changed from the lower visible illumination output level to the higher visible illumination output level.