Remote Surgical Mentoring via Shared Coordinate Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of minimally-invasive surgical procedures, especially when using surgical robotic systems, requires effective collaboration among surgical professionals, both locally and remotely, to enhance procedural efficiency and reduce risks.
Innovation Solution
A surgical robotic system equipped with remote mentoring features that allow for pre-operative, intraoperative, and post-operative collaboration through virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) interfaces, enabling remote mentors to provide real-time guidance and insights to local users via shared coordinate frames, audio streams, and interactive annotations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If surgical robotic systems are used to perform minimally-invasive surgery, then patient benefits such as reduced scarring and pain are achieved, but the complexity of the surgical procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote mentor as an intermediary who provides real-time guidance and support to the local surgical team. The mentor observes the procedure through video feeds and communicates recommendations, serving as a mediator between the complex robotic system and the operators who control it, thereby managing procedural complexity without compromising patient benefits
2Productivity
If remote collaboration features are added to surgical robotic systems, then procedural efficiency and risk reduction are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the collaboration system into distinct functional modules: video feed transmission, audio communication, annotation tools, and coordinate frame alignment. Each module operates independently but integrates seamlessly with others, allowing remote collaboration features to enhance procedural efficiency while managing system complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical robotic system is designed with multi-functional capabilities that serve both primary surgical operations and remote collaboration functions. The same robotic arms and imaging systems used for surgery also support telementoring activities, eliminating the need for separate dedicated equipment and thereby improving procedural efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity
3Reliability
If real-time remote guidance is implemented during surgery, then surgical risk is reduced, but communication and coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the remote mentor receives real-time video feeds from multiple camera angles and provides immediate verbal recommendations and annotations. The local team can ask clarifying questions and confirm understanding, creating a continuous feedback loop that enhances surgical safety through real-time guidance while managing communication complexity through structured interaction protocols
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual representation of an operating room is generated based on robot information and sensing of the OR with depth cameras. One of the depth cameras is integrated with a portable electronic device, operated by a local user in the operating room. The virtual representation of the OR is communicated to the virtual reality headset, with three-dimensional point cloud data. A virtual reality environment is rendered to a display of the virtual reality headset, operated by a remote user. A virtual representation of the remote user is rendered in augmented reality to a display of the portable electronic device.