Optical Data Transmission in Wireless Surgical Power Transmitters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical robotic systems face challenges in providing power and data transmission to sterile surgical instruments without piercing the sterile drape, which can lead to contamination and increased procedural costs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wireless optical data transmission system paired with RF wireless power transmission, allowing for contactless power and bidirectional data communication across a sterile barrier using optical elements like LEDs, light pipes, and fiber optics, while minimizing cross-talk and maintaining sterility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical contact is used to provide power and data transmission to surgical instruments, then power and data can be transmitted, but the sterile drape must be pierced which leads to contamination risk and increased procedural costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical electrical contact system with a wireless electromagnetic field-based power and data transmission system. This substitution eliminates the need for physical penetration of the sterile barrier, thereby maintaining sterility while providing power and communication to surgical instruments through inductive coupling and electromagnetic signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary electromagnetic field between the power source and the surgical instrument, allowing energy and data transfer without direct physical contact. This intermediary field enables transmission through the sterile drape without compromising its integrity or requiring modifications to it.
2Reliability
If wireless power transmission is used to maintain sterility, then contamination risk is reduced, but data transmission bandwidth may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges power transmission and data transmission functions into a single wireless electromagnetic system. By combining these functions, the system achieves both high-power delivery for surgical instruments and high-bandwidth data communication simultaneously without requiring separate transmission paths that would compromise sterility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in electromagnetic fields, including frequency modulation and amplitude variations, to encode and transmit data wirelessly. This allows high-bandwidth communication to occur through the same wireless power transmission medium, maintaining sterility while overcoming data transmission limitations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable and high-bandwidth data transmission and sufficient power delivery to surgical instruments, preserving the sterile environment and reducing procedural costs by avoiding the need for electrical contact or elaborate drapes.
Implementation Method 1
an optical transmission medium positioned within the power transmission and receive coils
Implementation Method 2
RF wireless power transmission, allowing for contactless power and bidirectional data communication across a sterile barrier
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless power transmission system for a robotic surgical system includes features for optical data transmission. A first component of the surgical system includes a control element, a power transmission element and an optical data transmission element; and a second component of the surgical system including a wireless power receiving element and an optical data receiving element, the second component is removably mountable to the first component. In some embodiments, a barrier such as a surgical drape and/or hermetic enclosure is positioned between the first and second components. In one example, of the components is a robotic manipulator arm and another is a powered instrument removably mountable to the manipulator arm.