Cable Robot Lighting Control for Surgical Workflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
In medical surgical suites, there is a need for efficient control and adjustment of lighting, precise tracking and delivery of tools, and avoidance of collisions in three-dimensional spaces, as conventional systems are cumbersome and interrupt surgical tasks frequently.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a cable robot module, central computer module, imaging module, and object manipulator module that allows for touchless control and adjustment of lighting, precise tracking, and delivery of tools with six degrees of freedom, using a vector camera and gesture recognition for autonomous operation and collision avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional lighting systems with overhead booms are used, then lighting can be provided in the operating theater, but the systems are cumbersome and require continuous sterilization and manual adjustment that interrupts surgical tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment of lighting systems with an automated robotic arm that can be controlled through touchless interfaces (voice commands, gestures, or foot pedals). This substitution eliminates the need for surgeons to physically reach overhead booms and adjust lighting during procedures, thereby reducing surgical task interruptions and improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic lighting system can autonomously position and adjust lighting based on detected surgical field requirements, reducing the need for manual intervention. The system serves itself by automatically navigating to appropriate positions and adjusting illumination levels without requiring surgeon attention, thus minimizing interruptions to surgical tasks.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light booms are deployed to provide adequate illumination, then lighting coverage is improved, but the risk of light booms colliding with one another increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors and tracking systems that continuously monitor the positions of multiple robotic arms in the operating theater. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect potential collision scenarios and adjust the trajectories of individual arms in real-time, enabling multiple light sources to operate simultaneously without colliding while maintaining comprehensive illumination coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arms operate in three-dimensional space with precise positional control across X, Y, and Z coordinates. By utilizing full 3D spatial awareness and coordination, the system can position multiple lighting devices at different heights, angles, and locations without interference, effectively using dimensional freedom to avoid collisions while achieving complete lighting coverage.
3Illumination intensity
If manual adjustment of lighting is allowed during surgery, then lighting can be optimized for surgical tasks, but surgeons spend significant time adjusting lighting instead of performing surgical tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual lighting adjustment with automated robotic positioning controlled through touchless interfaces. Surgeons can optimize lighting for surgical tasks using voice commands, gestures, or foot pedals without leaving the surgical field or spending time on manual adjustments, thereby maintaining lighting optimization while preserving surgical productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm acts as an intermediary between the surgeon's intent and the lighting system. The surgeon expresses lighting adjustment needs through simple touchless commands, and the robotic intermediary handles the complex task of positioning and adjusting the light source, eliminating the time-consuming manual adjustment process while maintaining lighting optimization.
4Ease of operation
If physical interaction with overhead booms and lighting equipment is required, then lighting can be adjusted, but continuous sterilization of handles is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical contact with overhead booms and handles with touchless control interfaces including voice recognition systems, gesture recognition cameras, and foot pedal controls. This substitution eliminates the need for surgeons to physically touch and repeatedly sterilize equipment handles, while maintaining full capability for lighting adjustment during procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A system adapted for supporting workflow in a three-dimensional space which provides, among other things, hands-free control and adjustment of lighting within the three-dimensional space. The system of the present invention is also adapted for delivering, tracking, and retrieving tools in the three-dimensional space. The system of the present invention includes various subsystems, which are referred to herein as modules, that both act independently and co-dependently, as will be described in greater detail below, in conjunction with a central control computer module. The modules consist, in an exemplary embodiment, of the cable robot module, the central computer module, the imaging module, the illumination module, and the object manipulator module.