Endoscope Surgical Instrument Position Control via Magnetic Field Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgeons face challenges in maintaining the position of surgical instruments during procedures, as manual control requires simultaneous manipulation of the endoscope and surgical instruments, leading to increased burden and fatigue, especially when biological motions or observation field changes occur.

Innovation Solution

A surgical instrument position control apparatus is introduced, featuring a magnetic field generation section, estimation section, and control section that detect and adjust the position of the surgical instrument within the endoscope's forceps channel, allowing for automatic return to the original position using a motor-driven mechanism and joystick control, reducing the need for manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual manipulation of the endoscope and surgical instrument is used, then the surgeon can control both instruments, but the manipulation burden and fatigue increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanipulation burdenVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical instrument automatically tracks and returns to the original position by detecting endoscope movement through magnetic field changes, eliminating the need for continuous manual adjustment and reducing surgeon manipulation burden

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the relative position between the endoscope and surgical instrument using magnetic field detection, and automatically adjusts the instrument position based on detected movements, creating a closed-loop control system that reduces manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Stability of the object's composition

If the surgical instrument moves integrally with the distal end portion of the endoscope, then the instrument follows the endoscope movement, but the instrument position relative to the target site changes requiring return operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstrument position stabilityVSAvoidtime for position correction

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical coupling between the endoscope and surgical instrument with a magnetic field-based detection and control system, allowing independent position management that prevents integral movement and eliminates time-consuming return operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If electrically-operated robotized surgical instruments are used, then manipulation burden and operation time are reduced, but the system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a magnetic field generation section and detection mechanism as an intermediary between the surgeon's manual control and the surgical instrument, providing automatic position compensation that achieves robotized efficiency while maintaining a simpler overall system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This solution enables precise control and reduced surgeon fatigue by maintaining the surgical instrument's position relative to the target site, even when the endoscope moves, thereby improving surgical efficiency and reducing manipulation burden.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic field generation section provided in the insertion section of the endoscope

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field generation: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 2

an estimation section detecting a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation section

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP2130479B1Device for controlling position of treatment instrument for endoscope

Publication Date: 2019.04.10 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

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Figure 3A

AI summary

An endoscopic system includes a surgical instrument position control apparatus. The surgical instrument position control apparatus estimates motion of an endoscope main body with respect to a target site, based on an image picked up in conjunction with movement of an endoscope. The surgical instrument position control apparatus then estimates motion of a surgical instrument moving integrally with the endoscope main body based on the motion of the endoscope main body. To determine the moving amount of the surgical instrument, the surgical instrument position control apparatus calculates the amounts of operations, such as bending, rotation, and forward and backward movements, of each joint of a surgical arm section 21c which amounts are required to move the surgical instrument from a position taken by the surgical instrument after movement of the endoscope to a surgical procedure position. The surgical instrument position control apparatus thus bends each joint to move the surgical section to the original surgical procedure position so as to hold the position of the surgical instrument every time the endoscope is moved.