Mobile VR Surgical Robot Training with Inside-Out Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional virtual reality systems for surgical robotic training are bulky, require external sensors, and are not mobile, making them difficult to set up and transport for training medical staff effectively.
Innovation Solution
A mobile virtual reality system utilizing inside-out tracking with handheld and foot input devices, eliminating the need for external trackers and allowing for real hardware simulations that can be easily transported and set up, featuring a processor, display, and input devices that control virtual surgical robotic systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional virtual reality systems are used for surgical robotic training, then immersive training experience is provided, but system mobility and ease of setup are reduced due to bulky components and external sensor requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes external trackers and cameras from the virtual reality system, replacing them with inside-out tracking technology that uses sensors integrated within the head-mounted display itself. This eliminates the need for external sensor infrastructure, significantly reducing setup complexity and improving ease of deployment in various training locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual reality system performs self-tracking and self-calibration using inside-out sensors integrated within the device. The system automatically maps the environment and tracks user movement without requiring external calibration equipment or setup assistance, enabling practitioners to quickly deploy the system independently in different training venues.
2Measurement precision
If full-blown virtual reality systems with external sensors are deployed, then tracking precision is improved, but system portability and mobility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tracking sensors, processing units, and display components into a single integrated head-mounted device. The inside-out tracking system combines multiple sensors (cameras, inertial measurement units, depth sensors) within the wearable unit itself, eliminating the need for separate external tracker infrastructure and reducing overall system portability requirements while maintaining tracking precision.
3Measurement precision
If external sensors and cameras are used for virtual reality tracking, then tracking accuracy is improved, but setup complexity and time are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual reality system performs preliminary environment mapping and calibration automatically upon first use in a location. The inside-out tracking system pre-maps the training environment using integrated sensors, storing spatial data for rapid subsequent use. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated setup and calibration procedures, significantly reducing setup time while maintaining tracking accuracy through pre-established spatial references.
Data Source
AI summary
Mobile virtual reality system for simulation, training or demonstration of a surgical robotic system can include a virtual reality processor. The processor can generate a virtual surgical robot and render the virtual surgical robot on a display. The virtual surgical robot can include a virtual surgical tool. A handheld user input device (UID) can sense a hand input from a hand. A foot input device can sense a foot input from a foot. The virtual reality processor can be configured to control a movement or action of the virtual surgical robot based on the hand input, and change which of the virtual surgical instruments is controlled by the one or more handheld UIDs based on the foot input. Other embodiments and aspects are disclosed and claimed.