PoV Surgical Drill Guidance With VR Endoscope Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic surgical systems face challenges such as endoscopes being cumbersome and obstructive, leading to potential patient harm due to lack of precise location tracking and interaction capabilities, and existing tracking systems failing to provide critical distance measurements and real-time interaction with surgeons.
Innovation Solution
A robotic surgical system integrated with a virtual reality environment, utilizing a virtual grid and augmented reality displays to track endoscope location, provide real-time distance measurements, and allow surgeons to control endoscopes through a user interface, enhancing precision and reducing errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If endoscopes are integrated with tracking systems and software to track location, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual reality environment as an intermediary layer between the physical endoscope and the surgeon. This virtual environment receives data from tracking systems and presents processed information (virtual endoscope position, distance measurements) to the surgeon, simplifying the interface while maintaining precise tracking capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the endoscope and surgical field in the VR environment. This virtual representation mirrors the physical state but can be enhanced with additional information like distance measurements and position indicators without adding physical complexity to the actual endoscope.
2Measurement precision
If endoscopes are made heavy and large in size for better imaging capabilities, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The VR environment acts as an intermediary that processes complex imaging data and presents simplified visual information to the surgeon. The system handles the heavy endoscope and provides lightweight virtual controls, separating the imaging function from the control interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical control of heavy endoscopes with virtual reality-based control interfaces. Surgeons interact with virtual representations and receive haptic or visual feedback, substituting direct mechanical manipulation with software-based control that reduces physical strain.
3Ease of operation
If current tracking systems provide basic GUI interfaces, then ease of operation is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to measure critical distances
Solution Approach 1:
The VR environment serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays basic GUI controls for ease of operation while also providing advanced measurement capabilities like distance calculations, position tracking, and visual overlays. This multi-functional approach resolves the contradiction between simplicity and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a virtual dimension to the surgical interface. Distance measurements and position information are displayed as virtual overlays in the VR space rather than requiring complex physical measurement tools. This additional dimensional layer provides precise measurements without complicating the physical interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic surgical system may be used to perform a surgical procedure. Providing guidance for the robotic surgical system includes integrating a Point of View (PoV) surgical drill with a camera to capture a PoV image of a surgical area of a subject patient; displaying an image of the surgical area, based on a viewing angle of the PoV surgical drill, thus enabling the surgeon to operate on the surgical area using the PoV surgical drill. The PoV surgical drill operates based on the surgeon's control of a guidance drill. The content of the images may change based on a change in the viewing angle of the PoV surgical drill.