Robotic Surgery Hand Controller With Ergonomic Motion Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional user interface devices for robotic surgical systems are not ergonomically designed, leading to user discomfort and fatigue, which can negatively impact surgical performance.
Innovation Solution
A handheld user interface device with a capacitive sensor and tracking sensor system that detects hand interactions and movements, allowing for intuitive control of robotic systems, including robotic arms and end effectors, with customizable housing sizes and modular adapters for different applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional user interface devices are used for robotic surgical systems, then the system can be controlled, but user discomfort and fatigue occur due to poor ergonomic design
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface device features a customized ergonomic housing with specific local qualities - a curved surface area configured to receive a user's hand, with specific curvature and contouring in the grip region. This localized ergonomic design directly addresses the technical contradiction by providing comfort and reducing fatigue (improving reliability) while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive hand-based control.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic sensing capabilities through capacitive sensors that detect hand interactions, gestures, and movements in real-time. This dynamic response system adapts to user actions continuously, improving ease of operation through intuitive control while maintaining reliable operation by responding precisely to user intentions without requiring physical buttons or switches that cause fatigue.
2Ease of operation
If capacitive sensors are used to detect hand interactions, then intuitive control is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges multiple sensing functions into integrated capacitive sensor regions that can detect various hand interactions (gripping, gesturing, movement) and gestures simultaneously. By combining these detection capabilities into a unified sensor system rather than separate components, the device achieves intuitive control through multiple input modes while managing device complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive sensor system provides multi-functionality by detecting various types of user inputs including hand gripping, hand gestures, and hand movements through a single integrated system. This universal sensing approach enables intuitive control through diverse interaction modes without proportionally increasing device complexity, as one sensor system serves multiple control purposes.
3Measurement precision
If tracking sensor system is added to detect hand movements, then surgical precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking sensor system is nested within or integrated with the existing user interface device housing, allowing position and orientation detection capabilities to be embedded in the device rather than added as separate external components. This nesting approach improves surgical precision through accurate hand movement tracking while minimizing the increase in device complexity by utilizing the existing device structure.
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
The device provides ergonomic control, reducing user fatigue and improving surgical precision by correlating hand movements with robotic system controls, enhancing the usability and effectiveness of robotic surgical systems.
Implementation Method 1
at least one capacitive sensor configured to detect interaction between the hand of the user and the housing
Implementation Method 2
a tracking sensor system configured to detect at least one of position and orientation of at least a portion of the device
Data Source
AI summary
A handheld user interface device for controlling a robotic system may include a member, a housing at least partially disposed around the member and configured to be held in the hand of a user, and a tracking sensor system disposed on the member and configured to detect at least one of position and orientation of at least a portion of the device. At least one of the detected position of the portion of the device and detected orientation of the portion of the device is correlatable to a control of the robotic system.