Surgical tool having integrated microphones

Abstract

Communication apparatus and devices for surgical robotic systems are described. The communication apparatus can include a user console in communication with a communication device having a surgical tool. The communication device can include a microphone to convert a sound input into an acoustic input signal. The communication device can transmit the acoustic input signal to the user console for reproduction as a sound output for a remote operator. The surgical tool can include an endoscope having several microphones mounted on a housing. The surgical tool can be a sterile barrier having a microphone and a drape. The microphone(s) of the surgical tools can face a surrounding environment such that a tableside staff is a source of the sound input that causes the sound output, and a surgeon and the tableside staff can communicate in a noisy environment. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Description

BACKGROUNDField[0001]Embodiments related to surgical robotic systems, are disclosed. More particularly, embodiments related to surgical robotic systems and corresponding communication devices, are disclosed.Background Information[0002]Endoscopic surgery involves looking into a patient's body and performing surgery inside the body using endoscopes and other surgical tools. For example, laparoscopic surgery can use a laparascope to access and view an abdominal cavity. Endoscopic surgery can be performed using manual tools and / or robotically-assisted tools.[0003]A surgical robotic system may be used by a surgeon to remotely command surgical tools located at an operating table. More particularly, the surgeon may use a computer console located across a room, or even across the world, from the operating table to command a robot to manipulate a surgical tool mounted on the operating table. The robotically-controlled surgical tool can be an endoscope mounted on a robotic arm. Accordingly, t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]In an embodiment, the surgical tool includes an endoscope. The endoscope can be attached to a robotic arm, and the robotic arm can be attached to a surgical table. The endoscope can have an elongated shaft for placement in the patient, and a housing located between a sterile barrier and the tableside staff. One or more microphones and one or more speakers can be mounted on the housing to provide the audio system to facilitate communication by the tableside staff. Several microphones of the audio system can be arranged in a microphone array to generate several microphone output signals. Optionally, a processor is mounted in the housing and can receive the microphone output signals to perform audio processing of the voice data, such as noise reduction or voice direction detection. Accordingly, the surgical tool can be used in a normal surgical workflow to provide clear communication between the tableside staff and the remote operator.

Problems solved by technology

To communicate with the remote surgeon, the bedside staff may shout across the operating arena, which may be a noisy environment.

When a surgeon is not physically located at an operating table during a robotically-assisted surgery, communication between the remote surgeon and bedside staff may be difficult.

Noise within the operating arena can interfere with the shouts of the bedside staff, rendering the speech inaudible.

The use of headsets can be disruptive to a surgical workflow in the operating arena, and thus, bedside staff may forget to wear a headset or may simply opt not to wear the headset.

Microphones mounted at various locations within the operating arena, e.g., hanging from a ceiling, may not extend into a zone between the operating table and the bedside staff, and thus, may not pick up the voices of the bedside staff.

Similarly, the bedside staff may not face the mounted microphones, and thus, sound quality of the monitored sound may be poor.

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