Force Sensor Feedback for Flexible Medical Device Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive medical techniques face challenges in providing intuitive control and management of flexible and steerable medical instruments, such as catheters, during procedures, as they require precise control of multiple degrees of freedom and real-time feedback to navigate effectively within the patient's anatomy.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a flexible elongate device with a force sensor and a control system that detects forces and generates force data, allowing for the identification of insertion forces and initiation of responsive operations, such as haptic feedback, alert notifications, and adjustments to user input mapping, to enhance control and safety during medical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If real-time force feedback is implemented, then control precision and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time force feedback by coupling a force sensor to the flexible elongate device and processing force data through a control system. The system identifies insertion forces from sensor data and initiates responsive operations, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that provides operators with tactile information about forces encountered during device insertion and navigation, thereby improving measurement precision and control safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary between the force sensor and the operator interface. It processes raw force data, identifies insertion forces, and translates them into meaningful feedback signals, mediating the complex interaction between the physical sensor and the user interface to manage system complexity while maintaining detection precision.
2Reliability
If force sensors and control systems are integrated, then operational safety is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically identifies insertion forces from force sensor data and initiates responsive operations without requiring manual intervention from the operator. The system self-monitors force conditions, detects potentially harmful forces, and autonomously adjusts device control or provides feedback, thereby improving operational safety while minimizing the additional operational burden on the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated force feedback system provides continuous information about forces encountered during device insertion and navigation. This feedback loop enables the operator to maintain situational awareness and adjust their actions accordingly, improving safety while keeping the interface intuitive through natural tactile cues rather than complex controls.
3Manufacturing precision
If real-time force monitoring is implemented, then procedural precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is pre-configured with force thresholds and responsive operations that are prepared in advance. When force data is received, the system can quickly compare against pre-established criteria and immediately initiate appropriate responses without requiring complex real-time calculations or decision-making delays, thereby maintaining procedural precision while minimizing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated force monitoring and identification system continuously processes force data in real-time without requiring manual analysis or intervention. The system self-manages the monitoring task, identifying insertion forces and triggering responsive operations automatically, which maintains high procedural precision while eliminating the time cost of manual force assessment.
Data Source
AI summary
A machine is configured to access force data generated by a force sensor, where the force sensor is communicatively coupled to a proximal portion of a flexible elongate device that has a distal portion configured to travel within an environment, and where the force sensor is configured to detect forces and generate the force data therefrom. The machine, based on the force data, identifies an insertion force encountered by the distal portion of the flexible elongate device from among the forces detected by the force sensor. The machine then, based on the identified insertion force, initiates a responsive operation performed by a control system communicatively coupled to the flexible elongate device.