Ophthalmic Surgery End Effectors for Automated Package Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ophthalmic surgery requires highly skilled surgeons and extensive training, and the manual process of opening and identifying surgical packages is technically complex, leading to inefficiencies and staffing challenges in high-volume facilities.
Innovation Solution
A robotic system with multiple end effectors and a controller that automates the identification and opening of surgical packages, reducing the need for manual labor and enabling efficient inventory tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual process of opening and identifying surgical packages is used, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but productivity is reduced and staffing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm is divided into multiple end effectors, each with specialized functions: a first end effector for holding and manipulating the surgical package, a second end effector with sensors for identification, a third end effector for presenting the package, and a fourth end effector for opening. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific task, improving overall productivity while managing complexity through functional specialization.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm serves multiple functions: it holds packages, identifies items through sensors, presents packages for opening, and releases items. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional robotic system rather than separate manual processes, the patent improves productivity while the modular end effector design helps manage the inherent complexity.
2Measurement precision
If automated robotic system is implemented, then productivity and accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second end effector includes sensors that transmit data to the controller, which determines the type of item within the surgical package. This feedback loop enables automatic identification and verification of surgical items, improving measurement precision and accuracy while the automated decision-making process reduces the complexity of manual identification procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical identification processes are replaced with automated sensor-based detection systems. The sensors in the second end effector automatically detect and identify surgical items, replacing the need for manual visual inspection and handling, thereby improving accuracy while the automation handles the complexity of the detection algorithms.
3Ease of operation
If multiple end effectors are used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple end effectors with different functions (holding, sensing, presenting, opening) are merged into a single robotic arm system. This integration allows the system to perform complex package handling operations through coordinated action of multiple effectors, improving ease of operation while the unified control system manages the complexity of coordinating multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system with multiple end effectors performs automated package handling, identification, and opening operations without manual intervention. The system serves itself by using its own integrated components to complete the entire workflow, improving ease of operation while the automation manages the complexity of multi-effector coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
In certain embodiments, a system includes a first robotic arm and a controller. The first robotic arm includes a first end effector and a second end effector. The first end effector is configured to hold and manipulate a surgical package containing an item. The second end effector includes a sensor configured to transmit sensor data. The controller is coupled to the first end effector and the second end effector, and is configured to control the first end effector to present the surgical package to the sensor of the second end effector, command the second end effector to acquire the sensor data, determine, based on the sensor data, a type of item within the surgical package.