System and method for detecting physical contact of surgical instrument with patient tissue

Abstract

A tissue contact detection system tracks a temperature of a surgical instrument associated with a surgical system for a surgical procedure over time during the surgical procedure. The system determines, based on the tracked temperature of the surgical instrument, that the temperature of the surgical instrument changes from a first temperature to a second temperature that changes from the first temperature by at least a predetermined amount, and determines, based on the determination that the temperature of the surgical instrument changes from the first temperature to the second temperature, that the surgical instrument is in physical contact with the patient tissue. In response to determining that the surgical instrument is in physical contact with the patient tissue, the system performs a mitigation operation configured to mitigate the physical contact of the surgical instrument with the patient tissue.

Description

[0001] Related applications [0002] This application claims a US provisional patent entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING PHYSICAL CONTACT OF ASURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH PATIENT TISSUE", filed on August 22, 2019 Priority to Application No. 62 / 890,536, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Background technique [0003] Surgical instruments that are in physical contact with patient tissue for extended periods of time may damage patient tissue. For example, surgical instruments (eg, endoscopes) that operate at higher temperatures than patient tissue may burn patient tissue after prolonged contact. As another example, surgical instruments can damage delicate tissue after prolonged contact. [0004] However, in some cases, it may be difficult for a surgeon to determine when a surgical instrument is in physical contact with a patient's tissue. For example, during a minimally invasive surgical procedure, a surgeon may not be able to det...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0004] However, in some cases it may be difficult for the surgeon to determine when surgical instruments are in physical contact with patient tissue

For example, during a minimally invasive surgical procedure, the surgeon may not be able to determine from the endoscopic view of the surgical site when surgical instruments are in physical contact with patient tissue at or near the surgical site

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