Shared Surgical Apparatus With On-Demand Clinical Application Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscopic surgery systems face challenges in efficiently managing and updating applications for different clinical departments, leading to increased storage requirements, system complexity, and costs, while also complicating the use of shared operating rooms.

Innovation Solution

A surgery system comprising an information processor and surgical apparatus that allows for storing and transmitting applications per clinical department, enabling easy and reliable updating and execution of applications suitable for specific clinical needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple medical apparatuses are installed for respective clinical departments, then each department can have dedicated equipment, but storage area and installation work requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclinical department coverageVSAvoidstorage area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions by loading different applications corresponding to different clinical departments. A single apparatus can serve digestive surgery, urology, otolaryngology, and other departments by dynamically loading the appropriate application, eliminating the need for separate dedicated equipment for each department.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses application programs as virtual copies of different clinical department functionalities. Instead of installing physical hardware for each department, the system loads software applications that replicate the functional capabilities needed for each clinical specialty, reducing physical storage and installation requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple medical apparatuses are installed for respective clinical departments, then each department can have dedicated equipment, but installation work for every use increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclinical department coverageVSAvoidinstallation work time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If applications for a plurality of clinical departments are incorporated in one medical apparatus, then equipment sharing is enabled, but storage region for application programs increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclinical department coverageVSAvoidstorage region for application programs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the application programs from the main system storage and stores them in an external storage device. This separation allows the surgical apparatus to access multiple clinical department applications without permanently allocating large internal storage capacity, as applications can be loaded and unloaded as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a nested storage structure where application programs are stored in an external storage device that is accessible by the surgical apparatus. This allows the system to maintain a compact core structure while having access to a larger external storage capacity for application programs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Adaptability or versatility

If applications for a plurality of clinical departments are incorporated in one medical apparatus, then equipment sharing is enabled, but system cost and development expenditure increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclinical department coverageVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

5Productivity

If a single surgical apparatus is shared among multiple clinical departments, then equipment utilization efficiency increases, but application updating reliability and ease decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating room utilization efficiencyVSAvoidapplication updating ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an external storage device as an intermediary between the surgical apparatus and the application programs. This intermediary facilitates easy updating and management of applications, as updates can be performed on the external storage without affecting the core surgical apparatus, thereby improving updating reliability and ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250255458A1Surgery system, control method, surgical apparatus, and program

Publication Date: 2025.08.14 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

The present technology relates to a surgery system, a control method, a surgical apparatus, and a program that allow easy updating of a function of a medical apparatus. A configuration includes an information processor, and a surgical apparatus. The information processor includes a storage section storing an application, and a transmission section transmitting, in response to a request from the surgical apparatus, the application stored in the storage section. The surgical apparatus includes a reception section receiving the application transmitted by the transmission section, and an execution section executing the application received by the reception section.