AR Headset for Surgical Robot Setup Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The setup and operation of robotically-assisted surgical systems are complex and require extensive training, leading to increased costs, potential delays, and risks of mistakes during surgeries, especially in emergency situations.

Innovation Solution

An augmented reality headset that provides real-time spatial and contextual information to guide medical staff in setting up and operating robotically-assisted surgical systems, by overlaying 3D-generated models and user-interface information onto a visor, and communicating with the surgical robotic system to receive spatial and system state information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If medical staff receive extensive training on robotically-assisted surgical systems, then operational reliability improves, but training time and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidtraining time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-guided training and setup capabilities through the AR headset, allowing medical staff to learn and configure the robotic system independently without requiring extensive formal training programs or dedicated education teams

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The AR headset acts as an intermediary that delivers contextual guidance and information directly to the user during setup and operation, bridging the gap between complex system functionality and user understanding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If an expansive education team is hired to train new staff, then training quality improves, but system costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraining qualityVSAvoidsystem costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the need for expensive education teams by enabling self-directed learning through integrated AR guidance, eliminating the requirement for dedicated trainers while maintaining high training quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The AR headset captures and reproduces expert knowledge and procedures in digital form, allowing any user to access the same high-quality guidance that would otherwise require expert instructors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If setup procedures are simplified, then setup speed improves, but positioning accuracy may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesetup speedVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the robotic arms' positions and provides real-time feedback through the AR headset, guiding users to achieve precise positioning while maintaining simple procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex manual setup procedures with automated guidance and control, using software-based position verification and correction rather than relying solely on manual precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If users have access to comprehensive system information, then operational confidence improves, but information processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational confidenceVSAvoidinformation processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The AR headset displays information locally at relevant positions in the user's field of view, presenting system state data contextualized to specific robotic arms and components rather than overwhelming the user with comprehensive system-wide information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions information from traditional 2D displays to 3D spatial presentation in the user's field of view, organizing data in multiple layers and dimensions that can be selectively accessed based on operational context

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20250120787A1Augmented reality headset for a surgical robot

Publication Date: 2025.04.17 AURIS HEALTH INC

AI summary

Disclosed is an augmented reality (AR) headset that provides a wearer with spatial, system, and temporal contextual information of a surgical robotic system to guide the wearer in configuring, operating, or troubleshooting the surgical robotic system prior to, during, or after surgery. The spatial context information may be rendered to display spatially-fixed 3D-generated virtual models of the robotic arms, instruments, bed, and other components of the surgical robotic system that match the actual position or orientation of the surgical robotic system in the AR headset's coordinate frame. The AR headset may communicate with the surgical robotic system to receive real-time state information of the components of the surgical robotic system. The AR headset may use the real-time state information to display context-sensitive user interface information such as tips, suggestions, visual or audio cues on maneuvering the robotic arms and table to their target positions and orientations or for troubleshooting purpose.