Audio Sensor Feedback for Surgical Precision

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Endoscopic and robotic surgical procedures face challenges as surgeons rely on feedback data rather than direct visual, audio, and tactile senses to monitor progress, guide instrumentation, and determine tissue location and condition.

Innovation Solution

A surgical system incorporating at least one audio sensor to sense audio during a surgical procedure and output audio data, coupled with a computing device that processes this data to determine the cause or location of sounds and provide indications for the surgeon.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If endoscopic or robotic surgical procedures are used, then patient comfort and recovery time are improved, but the surgeon loses direct visual, audio, and tactile feedback

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient comfort and recoveryVSAvoiddirect sensory feedback

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces audio feedback by capturing sounds from the surgical site using microphones and transmitting these sounds to the surgeon's console. This allows the surgeon to hear tissue manipulation sounds, instrument interactions, and other acoustic cues that provide tactile-like feedback during remote or endoscopic procedures, thereby compensating for the loss of direct sensory information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The audio transmission system acts as an intermediary between the surgical site and the surgeon. Microphones positioned at the surgical site capture acoustic information, which is then transmitted through the robotic or endoscopic system to the surgeon's interface, serving as a mediator that bridges the physical separation between surgeon and surgical site.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If robotic surgical systems are used for remote operation, then surgical precision and dexterity are improved, but the surgeon cannot directly sense tissue location and condition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical precision and dexterityVSAvoidtissue location and condition

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides acoustic feedback by capturing and transmitting sounds from the surgical site to the surgeon. This allows the surgeon to infer tissue location and condition through acoustic cues such as tissue manipulation sounds, instrument-tissue interactions, and other acoustic signatures that indicate the state of the surgical site.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces direct mechanical tactile sensing with acoustic sensing. Instead of relying on physical contact and tactile feedback, the surgeon uses audio information to detect tissue location and condition, substituting mechanical sensing with acoustic field-based sensing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If audio sensors are added to provide acoustic feedback, then surgical precision is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound location and cause determinationVSAvoidsurgical system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The audio sensors are integrated into the existing robotic or endoscopic surgical system, serving multiple functions: providing acoustic feedback to the surgeon, enabling sound source localization, and potentially assisting in surgical navigation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems and minimizes overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the existing acoustic environment and natural sounds from the surgical site without requiring additional active emission or complex processing. The microphones passively capture sounds that already exist, and the processing algorithms leverage these natural acoustic cues, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring extensive external support systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the surgeon to more accurately determine the location and cause of sounds within a surgical site, potentially improving precision and reducing errors during procedures.

Implementation Method 1

at least one audio sensor configured to sense audio during a surgical procedure and to output audio data based on the sensed audio

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic detection: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS12295690B2Systems and methods leveraging audio sensors to facilitate surgical procedures

Publication Date: 2025.05.13 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

A surgical system includes at least one audio sensor configured to sense audio during a surgical procedure and to output audio data based on the sensed audio. The surgical system further includes a computing device operably coupled to the at least one audio sensor and configured to receive the output audio data from the at least one audio sensor. The computing device includes a processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine at least one of a cause or a location of a sound based at least on the output audio data and to output an indication of the at least one of the cause or location of the sound.