Endoscope Sensor Detects Trocar Placement for Privacy and Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
During minimally-invasive surgical procedures, endoscopes face obstructed visualization due to the geometry of optical obturators and may inadvertently record personal health information when outside the patient's body, leading to privacy concerns and additional processing time.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope is equipped with sensors to automatically detect its placement within a trocar or cannula, allowing it to adjust its operational settings for improved visualization and safety. When outside the cannula, the endoscope can stop video capture, segment recorded videos, and turn off its light source to prevent patient burns and maintain privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the endoscope is equipped with sensors to automatically detect placement within a trocar or cannula, then visualization is improved and safety is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual monitoring and mechanical sensing with electronic sensors and automated control systems. Sensors detect the endoscope's position within the trocar or cannula, and a control system automatically adjusts operational parameters, substituting mechanical/manual operations with electronic detection and control to enhance safety while managing complexity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The endoscope system performs self-diagnosis and self-adjustment by using embedded sensors to detect its own placement status and automatically configuring its operational settings. The control system autonomously determines when the endoscope is properly positioned and adjusts visualization parameters without requiring external intervention, enabling the device to serve and monitor itself.
2Productivity
If the endoscope automatically adjusts operational settings based on detected environmental conditions, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system pre-configures operational settings based on anticipated conditions. When sensors detect specific environmental conditions or placement status, the system has already prepared appropriate settings to automatically apply, enabling rapid adaptation without manual intervention and improving procedural efficiency while managing complexity through pre-programmed responses.
Solution Approach 2:
The endoscope system dynamically adjusts its operational parameters in real-time based on sensor feedback regarding environmental conditions and placement status. The control system continuously monitors sensor data and automatically modifies visualization settings, light source intensity, and other parameters to optimize performance for current conditions, enabling adaptive productivity enhancement.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the endoscope light source is turned off when outside the cannula, then harmful factors are reduced, but loss of time occurs due to frequent on/off switching
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously receives feedback from sensors regarding the endoscope's position relative to the trocar or cannula. Based on this real-time feedback, the system automatically controls the light source, turning it off when the endoscope is outside the cannula and turning it on when properly positioned. This closed-loop control prevents patient exposure to unnecessary light while minimizing manual intervention and associated time losses.
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 enhances visualization during surgical procedures by correcting obstructed views and ensures compliance with patient privacy regulations by preventing unnecessary recording of personal health information.
Implementation Method 1
the endoscope may use other types of near-field communication (NFC) with passive or active tags
Implementation Method 2
the endoscope may embed a sensor that is capable of reading passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tags embedded in trocars or cannulas
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are systems and methods for an endoscope or other surgical instruments to automatically sense when it's placed inside or outside of a trocar or a cannula. Operational setting of the endoscope may be adjusted as a function of the detected environmental condition to improve the function of the endoscope and the safety of a surgical procedure. The endoscope may include a sensor to sense a tag embedded in a trocar or cannula. The endoscope may transmit sensing information to a controller of a surgical robotic system to indicate that the endoscope has been inserted into the trocar or cannula. The controller may generate configuration information corresponding to the sensed state. The controller may transmit the configuration information to the endoscope to configure the endoscope to operate in the state. In another aspect, the endoscope may wirelessly communicate with another surgical instrument to receive operational information from the surgical instrument.