Medical Robotic System Autonomous Patient Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical robotic systems require significant human control and cannot effectively operate on patients who move during procedures, as they lose track of the patient's location, leading to inefficiencies and discomfort for the patient.
Innovation Solution
A robotic system with a movable robotic arm, a sensing device for data acquisition, and a controller that allows the system to perform operations autonomously by tracking patient movement using LiDAR sensors and cameras, enabling precise treatment planning and execution without substantial human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a robotic arm is controlled by a live human operator in real time, then the system can adapt to patient movement, but the system requires substantial human intervention and cannot operate autonomously
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system performs self-positioning and self-tracking by using sensing devices to detect patient anatomy and calculate its own position relative to the patient. The system autonomously adjusts its operational parameters without requiring continuous human intervention, enabling fully automated operation while maintaining adaptability to patient movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously receives feedback from sensing devices that track patient anatomy and movement. This feedback is processed by the controller to automatically adjust the robotic arm's position and treatment parameters, enabling autonomous operation that adapts to patient movement in real-time without human control.
2Extent of automation
If the robotic system is programmed to move the instrument in a predetermined pattern, then autonomous operation is achieved, but the system loses track of patient location when the patient moves
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static predetermined patterns to dynamic adaptive positioning. The robotic arm continuously updates its movement pattern based on real-time patient position data from sensing devices, allowing autonomous operation that maintains accurate tracking even when the patient moves during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses continuous feedback from sensing devices to monitor patient position and automatically adjusts the predetermined movement pattern to maintain accurate tracking. This closed-loop control enables autonomous operation that adapts to patient movement while preserving measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If the patient is completely immobilized to prevent movement, then tracking accuracy is maintained, but patient comfort and procedure duration are significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical immobilization constraints with optical and sensor-based tracking. Instead of physically restraining the patient, the system uses sensing devices to optically track patient anatomy and automatically adjusts its positioning, maintaining tracking accuracy while eliminating the need for immobilization and improving patient comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system autonomously compensates for patient movement by continuously calculating its position relative to the patient using sensing device data. This self-positioning capability eliminates the need for patient immobilization, maintaining tracking accuracy while significantly improving patient comfort during the procedure.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the robotic arm is made movable in space surrounding the patient with an individually movable end effector, then operational flexibility and precision are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm and end effector are designed as a integrated multi-functional system where the end effector can be individually positioned and oriented independently of the arm's main movement. This universal design allows the same robotic structure to perform multiple surgical tasks with high precision while managing complexity through standardized components and control algorithms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables autonomous medical procedures on patients who move, improving operational efficiency and patient comfort by maintaining precise tracking and adaptation to movement, ensuring accurate treatment delivery.
Implementation Method 1
A robotic system with a movable robotic arm, a sensing device for data acquisition, and a controller that allows the system to perform operations autonomously by tracking patient movement using LiDAR sensors and cameras
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic system for treating a patient includes a robotic arm with an end effector for treating the patient, wherein the robotic arm is configured to be movable in a space surrounding the patient, and the end effector is configured to be movable individually and co-movable with the robotic arm in said space; a sensing device for acquiring data associating with coordinates and images of the end effector and the patient; and a controller in communications with the robotic arm and the sensing device for controlling movements of the robotic arm with the end effector and treatments of the patient with the end effector based on the acquired data and a treatment plan.