Medical System Remote Assistance Coordination Using System Context
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic and medical systems face challenges in providing adequate user support due to their complexity and the need for careful planning, especially during procedures, requiring efficient coordination of remote assistance.
Innovation Solution
A coordination system that includes a support agent and system awareness engine to identify a suitable support person based on system-internal and system-external contexts, facilitating contact and prioritizing responses to support requests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a robotic system includes multiple links coupled together by multiple joints with user-controllable joints and interchangeable instruments, then the system's functionality and versatility are improved, but the operation becomes non-trivial and requires careful planning
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects its own state through sensors monitoring joint positions, instrument configurations, and procedural progress. This self-awareness enables the system to autonomously determine when support is needed and what type of support is required, reducing the operational burden on users while maintaining full system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors its operational state through sensors and provides real-time feedback about system status, procedural progress, and potential issues. This feedback mechanism helps users understand the complex system state without requiring them to manually track all parameters, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Extent of automation
If the robotic system is equipped with sensors to detect system state and procedural progress, then the system's self-awareness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensors and detection mechanisms serve multiple functions: monitoring joint positions, detecting instrument configurations, tracking procedural progress, and identifying when support is needed. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby increasing self-awareness without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple detection functions into a unified sensing architecture where a single sensor network serves multiple purposes. By merging the functions of position monitoring, instrument detection, and procedural tracking into one integrated system, the patent reduces overall complexity while achieving comprehensive self-awareness.
3Productivity
If the system automatically identifies support needs and contacts appropriate personnel, then the response time and support efficiency are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and identification of support needs before actual support is required. By continuously monitoring system state and procedural progress, the system proactively identifies when support is needed and contacts appropriate personnel in advance, reducing response time and improving efficiency without requiring complex real-time decision-making systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A coordination system for coordinating remote assistance of a medical system involves a support agent executed by a computer processor. The support agent is configured to receive a first support request submitted by a user of the medical system, and identify a support person to respond to the first support request from a multitude of support persons by applying a support person identification logic to a system-internal context. The system-internal context is obtained from a system awareness engine configured to detect information about the medical system. The support agent is further configured to facilitate contact of the support person.