Microscope Overlay Footswitch Control for Surgical Setting Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Changing settings on a surgical console during an ophthalmic procedure is inefficient and distracts the user from the surgical field, requiring manual interaction that diverts attention away from the procedure.
Innovation Solution
A footswitch with a joystick and buttons is used to adjust surgical instrument settings via a graphical overlay displayed in the microscope's field of view, allowing users to control settings without leaving the surgical field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If settings are changed using dials, knobs, or GUI on the surgical console, then the settings can be adjusted, but the user's attention is diverted from the surgical field causing inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the setting adjustment controls directly into the footswitch device, combining the functions of setting modification and surgical operation control into a single integrated interface. This allows the user to adjust surgical instrument settings while maintaining focus on the surgical field through the microscope, eliminating the need to divert attention to the surgical console.
Solution Approach 2:
The footswitch acts as an intermediary device between the user and the surgical instrument settings. By providing foot-actuated controls that can be operated without removing hands from the surgical instruments, it mediates the interaction between the user and the system, allowing setting changes while maintaining surgical focus.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the user looks up from the microscope to change settings on the console, then the settings can be modified, but focus on the surgical field is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The control functions are segmented and redistributed: the footswitch handles setting adjustments while the hands remain focused on surgical instrument manipulation. This segmentation allows independent operation of setting modification without compromising surgical field focus, as each function has its own dedicated control interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The footswitch provides self-service capability for setting adjustments, allowing the user to modify parameters independently without requiring assistance from surgical team members or diverting attention from the primary surgical task. The system serves itself through foot-actuated controls that integrate into the existing surgical workflow.
3Reliability
If an assistant manually changes settings on the console, then the user can maintain focus, but the process introduces delays and inefficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service setting adjustments through the footswitch, eliminating the need for assistant intervention. The user can independently modify surgical instrument parameters by operating the footswitch controls, thereby removing the time loss associated with requesting and executing assistant assistance while maintaining continuous focus on the surgical field.
Data Source
AI summary
An ophthalmic surgical system comprises a surgical microscope that provides a field of view of a surgical site to a user. A microscope display device displays a graphical overlay and the field of view. The graphical overlay displays fields to adjust configurable settings that modify operation of a surgical instrument. A footswitch receives user input from the user to adjust the configurable settings by: detecting a first movement of a joystick by the user, the first movement representing movement of a cursor relative to the fields; and detecting a second movement of the joystick or a button by the user, the second movement representing a selection of a field. The computer: generates a control signal to adjust the configurable settings in the response to the user input; and outputs the control signal to the surgical instrument to adjust the configurable settings according to the user input.