Robotic Implant Route Planning for Minimally Invasive Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional surgical methods often result in unintended harm due to difficulty in visualizing surgical tool movements within the patient's body, leading to potential internal injuries and inadequate access to surgical sites, especially with rigid tool extensions used in laparoscopic procedures.
Innovation Solution
The development of computer-implemented digital image analysis methods for robotic surgical implant installation, which includes route planning and segmentation of surgical implants into subcomponents to facilitate minimally invasive procedures, using imaging data to identify less invasive installation paths and determine surgical movement modalities for navigating implants through the body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rigid tool extensions are used in laparoscopic procedures, then surgical access is improved, but patient injury and internal harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid tool extensions with flexible robotic arms that can navigate through the patient's body with greater compliance. The robotic system uses flexible segments and articulated joints to adapt to the body's contours, reducing the risk of internal injury while maintaining surgical access capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical tools are divided into multiple segmented components that can flex and articulate relative to each other. This segmentation allows the tool to bend and conform to the patient's anatomy, reducing harmful rigid contact while maintaining access to deep surgical sites.
2Productivity
If traditional surgical visualization methods are used, then surgical procedure can be performed, but surgical tool movements cannot be adequately visualized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates visual indicators that change color or appearance based on the tool's position, orientation, or status. This allows the surgical team to easily visualize tool movements and spatial relationships within the patient's body through color-coded feedback on display screens.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual 3D copy of the patient's anatomy and surgical tools using imaging data. This digital twin allows real-time visualization and tracking of tool movements within the virtual model, providing enhanced spatial awareness without adding physical complexity to the surgical field.
3Ease of operation
If large incisions are made for implant installation, then implant access is improved, but patient recovery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses 3D imaging and virtual reality to plan and execute implant installation through minimally invasive paths. By visualizing the surgical field in three dimensions, the system can identify optimal entry points and trajectories that avoid large incisions, allowing implants to be delivered through small access points while maintaining precise placement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preoperative planning and route optimization using 3D imaging data before the actual surgery. Surgical paths are simulated and optimized in advance to identify the least invasive approach, allowing the surgical team to execute the procedure through minimal incisions while ensuring proper implant delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
Computer-implemented digital image analysis methods, apparatuses, and systems for robotic installation of surgical implants are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus plans a route within an anatomy of a patient from an incision site to a surgical implant site for robotic installation of a surgical implant. The apparatus uses digital imaging data to identify less-invasive installation paths and determine the dimensions of the surgical implant components being used. The apparatus segments the surgical implant into surgical implant subcomponents and modifies the surgical implant subcomponents, such that they can be inserted using the identified less-invasive installation paths.