Robotic Surgical Foot Pedal Assignment Through Instrument Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing robotic surgical systems lack efficient and automated methods for assigning foot pedals to surgical instruments, leading to potential errors and inefficiencies in surgical procedures.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for automatically assigning foot pedals to surgical instruments in a robotic surgical system, including the use of a processing unit to identify connected instruments and generate prompts for clinician selection, and an electrosurgical generator to verify instrument conditions before delivering energy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If foot pedals are fixedly assigned to surgical instruments or manually assigned by clinician, then the system structure is simple, but the efficiency and accuracy of instrument control deteriorates due to potential errors and inefficiencies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of instrument controlVSAvoidcomplexity of assignment system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects which surgical instruments are connected to the robotic system and autonomously assigns the appropriate foot pedals to control those instruments, eliminating the need for manual assignment by the clinician. This self-assigning mechanism improves efficiency while maintaining simple system structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the status of surgical instruments and foot pedals, and dynamically adjusts assignments based on real-time feedback about which instruments are connected and active. This ensures optimal control assignment without requiring complex preconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If automatic assignment is implemented, then the efficiency and precision of surgical control is improved, but the system complexity increases due to automated detection and verification mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of instrument-pedal matchingVSAvoidcomplexity of automated assignment system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects connected instruments and assigns foot pedals without requiring complex manual configuration or intervention, achieving high accuracy through automated identification and matching processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection and verification of instrument connections before surgical procedures begin, and maintains readiness to reassign pedals if instruments are added or removed during surgery. This advance preparation ensures accurate matching without adding operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If manual assignment of foot pedals is used, then the system is easy to operate, but errors and inefficiencies occur in surgical procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of instrument controlVSAvoidease of pedal assignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically assigns foot pedals to the correct surgical instruments based on detected connections, eliminating manual assignment errors while maintaining ease of operation through automated processes that require minimal clinician intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously verifies instrument-pedal assignments through automated feedback mechanisms, detecting and correcting any mismatches or errors automatically, thereby ensuring high reliability without burdening the operator with complex manual verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3852664B1Foot pedal assignment for robotic surgical systems
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 COVIDIEN LP
  • EP3852664B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3852664B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A method of automatically assigning foot pedals of a robotic surgical system to surgical instruments of a surgical robot of the robotic surgical system includes: receiving a signal that a first electrosurgical pedal is actuated; determining a number of electrosurgical instruments connected to the surgical robot in response to actuation of the first electrosurgical foot pedal; assigning the first electrosurgical foot pedal to a first electrosurgical instrument connected to the surgical robot after the first electrosurgical foot pedal is actuated; and delivering electrosurgical energy to the first electrosurgical instrument in response to actuation of the first electrosurgical foot pedal after assigning the first electrosurgical foot pedal to the first electrosurgical instrument.