Robotic Medical Control for Constant Overshoot Under Network Delay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Robotic medical device systems face challenges in maintaining consistent movement and control due to variations in delay associated with network communications, leading to issues such as overshoot and overtravel during robotic interventional procedures.

Innovation Solution

A controller is configured to control the robotic medical device to maintain a substantially constant overshoot and maximum overtravel distance by adjusting movement and velocity in response to control signals received via a network, with mechanisms in place to handle delays within acceptable thresholds and disable operations when delays exceed critical levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If network communication is used to transmit control signals, then remote operation capability is improved, but control delay and overshoot increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote operation capabilityVSAvoidcontrol delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting the desired device state based on historical control signals and system dynamics models before actual control signals arrive. This prediction compensates for network delays by preparing control commands in advance, reducing the effective control delay while maintaining remote operation capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor actual device state and compare it with predicted states. This feedback loop enables real-time adjustment of control signals to compensate for network-induced delays and overshoot, maintaining stable remote operation despite communication latency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If control signals are transmitted over network, then remote control flexibility is improved, but overshoot and overtravel occur due to delay variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote control flexibilityVSAvoidmovement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs dynamic control strategies that adapt control parameters in real-time based on current system state and delay conditions. By making the control system dynamic rather than static, it can adjust to varying network delays while maintaining movement precision and preventing overshoot, thus preserving both remote control flexibility and positioning accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes control parameters such as gain values, prediction horizons, and velocity limits based on detected delay conditions. These parameter adjustments allow the system to maintain precise movement control under varying network latency conditions, preventing overshoot while preserving remote control adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If velocity control is increased to improve procedure speed, then productivity is improved, but overshoot and overtravel increase due to network delay

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocedure speedVSAvoidcontrol stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary velocity planning based on predicted trajectories and delay compensation before actual movement execution. By pre-calculating velocity profiles that account for network latency, the system can maintain higher speeds while preventing overshoot, thus improving productivity without sacrificing control stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from actual device position and velocity to continuously adjust control commands. This real-time feedback enables the system to maintain high productivity by allowing faster velocities while automatically correcting for overshoot caused by network delays, thereby preserving control stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4169472A1Medical device systems and computer-readable mediums for operating the same
Publication Date: 2023.04.26 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS ENDOVASCULAR ROBOTICS INC
  • EP4169472A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4169472A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4169472A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A robotic medical device system includes a robotic medical device and a controller. The controller is configured to control, in response to one or more control signals, movement of the robotic medical device to maintain a substantially constant overshoot for different step responses of the robotic medical device system independent of variations in a delay associated with control of the robotic medical device, the one or more control signals received via a network.