Surgical Instrument Wear Tracking for Reliable Teleoperation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgeons lack access to patient-specific anatomical and procedural information during surgeries, and existing surgical instruments lack effective wear tracking, leading to inefficiencies and potential safety risks due to instrument degradation.
Innovation Solution
A teleoperated surgical system with a surgical instrument wear tracking mechanism that records surgical procedures, tracks instrument actuator states, and uses a computer-based pattern matching algorithm to provide relevant surgical guidance and manage instrument lifetimes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If surgical instruments are used repeatedly without wear tracking, then productivity is improved through continuous use, but reliability deteriorates due to instrument degradation and potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring surgical instrument actuator states during procedures and comparing them against wear thresholds. This feedback loop enables real-time tracking of instrument degradation, allowing the system to alert surgeons when instruments approach wear limits, thus maintaining reliability while maximizing productive use
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual inspection and subjective assessment of instrument condition with automated electronic monitoring systems. Sensors and processors substitute for mechanical evaluation methods, providing objective, quantifiable data on instrument wear based on actuator state analysis, thereby improving both reliability assessment and productivity optimization
2Reliability
If surgical instruments are replaced frequently to ensure reliability, then reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to increased instrument changes and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by predicting instrument wear trends and alerting surgeons before critical degradation occurs. By analyzing actuator state data in real-time and projecting future wear levels, the system enables proactive instrument replacement scheduling that prevents failure while minimizing interruptions to surgical procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by establishing dynamic wear thresholds and criteria based on instrument type, surgical application, and usage patterns. These parameters are continuously updated based on monitored actuator states, allowing optimization of replacement timing to balance reliability requirements with productivity maintenance
3Ease of manufacture
If generic anatomical models are used for surgical training, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to lack of patient-specific information
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies copying by creating digital replicas of patient-specific anatomical structures from medical imaging data. These virtual models replicate actual patient anatomy with high fidelity, enabling customized surgical planning and training while maintaining ease of access through software-based delivery rather than physical model manufacturing
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical method is provided, comprising: providing an information structure in a computer readable storage device that associates an indication of surgeon skill level in at least one surgical activity performed using the surgical instrument with a surgical instrument actuator safety state of the surgical instrument for use during performance of the at least one surgical activity using the surgical instrument by a surgeon having the indicated skill level; tracking surgical instrument actuator state of a surgical instrument during performance of a surgical procedure by a surgeon; and transitioning the surgical instrument actuator state of the surgical instrument to the surgical instrument safety state during performance of the at least one surgical activity by the surgeon using the surgical instrument.