Robotic Arm Surgical Orientation via Head Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods rely on fixed microscopes, limiting ergonomic positioning and natural head movement for medical personnel, which can lead to discomfort and inefficiency during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A medical spatial orientation system comprising a robotic arm with an image sensor, a visualization headset, and a computing subsystem that allows medical personnel to view and control the surgical field through head movements, enabling hands-free operation and off-angle viewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed microscope is used to view the surgical field, then the surgical field can be magnified and viewed, but the medical personnel cannot move naturally or ergonomically during the procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing the fixed microscope with a movable robotic arm that can dynamically reposition the imaging sensor. The robotic arm allows the surgical field to be viewed from multiple angles and positions while maintaining magnification, enabling medical personnel to move ergonomically without compromising viewing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the traditional mechanical microscope positioning system with an automated robotic arm system controlled by head movements. This replacement eliminates the need for manual adjustment of heavy microscope equipment, allowing more natural and ergonomic operator positioning while maintaining precise control over the surgical field view.
2Ease of operation
If a fixed microscope is used, then the surgical field can be viewed, but hands-free control and natural head movement control are not available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual hand control of the microscope with a head movement detection system. Sensors in the visualization headset detect head movements and translate them into corresponding movements of the robotic arm, enabling hands-free control of the surgical field view.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system between the operator's head movements and the robotic arm control. The visualization headset and computing subsystem act as mediators, detecting head position and orientation, processing this information, and generating appropriate commands to move the robotic arm and imaging sensor accordingly.
3Productivity
If the microscope position is fixed vertically, then the structure is stable, but the medical personnel cannot view different portions of the surgical field efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing the vertically fixed microscope with a robotic arm that can move in multiple degrees of freedom. This allows efficient viewing of different surgical field portions through natural head movements, significantly improving viewing efficiency while maintaining system stability through controlled automation.
4Ease of operation
If manual microscope adjustment is used, then the system is simple to control, but operator fatigue increases during prolonged procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes manual microscope adjustment with an automated robotic arm system controlled by head movements. This eliminates the physical effort required to adjust the microscope during prolonged procedures, significantly reducing operator fatigue while maintaining simple and intuitive control through natural head motion.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for medical spatial orientation is disclosed including a robotic arm; an image sensor coupled to the robotic arm; a visualization headset; and a computing subsystem coupled to the robotic arm and the visualization headset. The computing subsystem includes a processor; a non-transitory machine-readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor; and instructions stored on the non-transitory machine-readable medium that, when loaded and executed by the processor, cause the processor to create a first image of a first portion of a surgical field at an image sensor coupled to the robotic arm; detect a movement of a visualization headset indicating a second portion of the surgical field; determine a movement of the robotic arm to position the image sensor at the second portion of the surgical field; move, based on the determination, the robotic arm; and create a second image of the second portion of the surgical field.