Robotic Port Placement Guidance Before Minimally Invasive Incisions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Incorrect port placement during minimally invasive procedures can lead to difficulties in manipulating surgical tools, necessitating a need for accurate port placement guidance.

Innovation Solution

A robotic medical system with a port placement assistance mode that determines user-selected port locations and compares them to recommended locations based on procedure models, providing recommendations for adjustment and enabling manual or automated movement of robotic arms to correct positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If port placement is performed without guidance, then the procedure can proceed quickly, but port locations may be incorrect leading to difficulties in tool manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveport placement accuracyVSAvoidsetup time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs port placement guidance and validation before the actual incision is made. The robotic arm positions a measurement tool at the intended port location, compares it with recommended locations from the procedure model, and allows adjustment before final commitment, ensuring accuracy without delaying the procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides real-time feedback by comparing the user-selected port location with the recommended port location from the procedure model. The display shows whether the selected location is appropriate or if it deviates from optimal placement, allowing the physician to adjust before making the incision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the robotic arm is moved manually to correct port locations, then the physician has full control, but the process requires more time and effort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveport placement controlVSAvoidadjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows dynamic switching between manual control mode and automated movement mode. The physician can choose to manually move the robotic arm to the recommended port location or allow the system to automatically move it, providing flexibility based on the specific situation and physician preference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the robotic arm is automatically moved to correct port locations, then the process is faster, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesetup efficiencyVSAvoidsystem automation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The robotic system performs self-positioning by automatically moving the measurement tool to the recommended port location based on the procedure model. The system uses its own computational resources and control mechanisms to autonomously adjust positioning without requiring external intervention for each adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20260033904A1Port placement assistance

Publication Date: 2026.02.05 AURIS HEALTH INC

AI summary

Robotic medical systems may provide port placement guidance to a physician before incisions are made in a patient. A robotic medical system can include a robotic arm and a measurement tool coupled to the robotic arm. The robotic medical system can be configured to determine, based on a location of the measurement tool, a user-selected location for placing a port on a patient. The robotic medical system can compare the user-selected location with a recommended location for placing the port on the patient and provide a notification in accordance with the comparison.