Computer-Modulated Surgical Laser Intensity for Oncology
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Solution Overview
Problem
Residual cancer cells often remain after initial oncology surgeries, leading to local recurrence, increased metastasis, and poorer outcomes, necessitating secondary surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A surgical robot system equipped with a laser that uses computer-modulated surgical laser intensity, adjusted in real-time based on continuous imaging and sensor data, to precisely remove cancer cells during oncology surgeries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional laser surgery is used, then cancer cells can be removed from tumor bed, but residual cancer cells remain leading to local recurrence and poorer outcomes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs pre-surgical planning by analyzing pre-operative images and patient data to identify cancer cells and determine optimal laser parameters before the actual surgery begins. This preliminary action allows for customized treatment protocols that are tailored to the specific characteristics of the tumor and patient anatomy, improving the precision and completeness of cancer cell removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the surgical area during laser treatment using imaging devices and sensors, providing real-time feedback to the control system. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of laser intensity and delivery parameters based on the actual tissue response, ensuring complete removal of cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
2Productivity
If laser intensity is increased to remove more cancer cells, then removal efficiency improves, but risk of damaging surrounding healthy tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different laser intensity levels to different regions of the tumor based on local characteristics identified through image analysis. Areas with higher cancer cell density receive higher intensity treatment, while areas near healthy tissue receive reduced intensity. This spatially varying approach maximizes removal efficiency while protecting surrounding healthy structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser treatment is delivered in controlled pulses rather than continuous exposure, allowing the tissue to cool between pulses. This periodic action enables the delivery of high total energy for effective cancer cell removal while limiting the peak power density that could cause thermal damage to healthy tissue.
3Manufacturing precision
If real-time monitoring and adjustment of laser settings is implemented, then precision and safety of procedure improves, but complexity of surgical system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system integrates multiple functions including pre-surgical planning, real-time image analysis, laser parameter optimization, and post-surgical assessment into a single unified platform. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate devices and manual processes, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically adjusts laser parameters based on real-time feedback from imaging devices and sensors without requiring constant manual intervention. The control system self-regulates the laser delivery based on detected tissue characteristics and treatment progress, reducing the operational burden on the surgeon while maintaining precise control.
4Reliability
If automated surgical procedures with remote operation are implemented, then practitioner safety and precision improves, but skill requirement and system control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system serves as an intelligent intermediary between the remote operator and the surgical laser. It automatically processes images, analyzes tissue characteristics, determines optimal laser parameters, and executes the treatment protocol, allowing the practitioner to operate from a safe distance while maintaining precise control through automated mediation.
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
The system enables precise and efficient removal of cancer cells, reducing the need for secondary surgeries by ensuring accurate and safe tissue ablation, while also allowing for remote operation and improved pre-surgical planning.
Implementation Method 1
The laser can be used to vaporize a specific portion or tissue from a patient's body using the precisely modulated laser frequency
Implementation Method 2
The laser can be used to vaporize a specific portion or tissue from a patient's body
Data Source
AI summary
A system for performing robotic laser surgery is disclosed. The system comprises at least one surgery equipment, a surgeon terminal, and a communication module. Further, the system includes a surgical computer communicatively coupled to the at least one surgery equipment via the communication module. The surgical computer is configured to transfer data between the surgeon terminal and the at least one surgery equipment. The surgeon terminal is configured to modulate the tunable laser to conduct the surgical procedure in fully autonomous mode or semi-autonomous mode using robot controls. Further, a plurality of sensors is used to real-time data while performing surgical procedure and transmit the real-time data to the surgeon terminal.