Surgical Anchoring and Image Merging for 3D Lumen Manipulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical imaging systems struggle to recognize and convey certain concealed structures, physical contours, and dimensions within a three-dimensional space intraoperatively, limiting their effectiveness in surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical anchoring system with expandable anchor members and channel arms that can be inserted into natural body lumens to form anchor points, allowing for precise manipulation and coordination of instruments within and outside the body, combined with scope devices and controllers to merge and align images from different viewpoints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional imaging systems are used to view surgical sites, then the system structure remains simple, but the system cannot recognize and convey concealed structures, physical contours, and dimensions within three-dimensional space
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical system is divided into multiple independent scope devices (endoscopic scope, laparoscopic scope, robotic scope) that can be inserted through different access points. Each scope captures images from its specific viewpoint, and the image merging system combines these segmented views into a comprehensive three-dimensional representation, enabling recognition of concealed structures without requiring a single complex imaging device
Solution Approach 2:
An image merging and alignment system acts as an intermediary between multiple scope devices and the surgical display. This intermediary component receives images from various scopes, aligns them based on their respective viewpoints, merges them into a cohesive three-dimensional representation, and presents the integrated view to the surgeon, thereby enabling complex three-dimensional visualization through a modular intermediate processing layer
2Measurement precision
If multiple scope devices are used to capture images from different viewpoints, then the recognition of concealed structures is improved, but the coordination of instrument movements becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple scope devices (endoscopic, laparoscopic, robotic scopes) are merged into a single coordinated system with shared control mechanisms. The control system integrates inputs from all scopes and synchronizes their movements, allowing them to function as a unified platform that captures comprehensive three-dimensional views while simplifying coordination through centralized control architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates real-time feedback loops where the control system continuously monitors the positions and viewpoints of all scope devices, adjusts their coordination based on the merged image alignment requirements, and provides feedback to maintain optimal positioning. This feedback mechanism enables automatic coordination of multiple instruments without requiring complex manual synchronization
3Manufacturing precision
If anchor members are expanded to form anchor points in natural body lumens, then the manipulation precision of organs is improved, but the risk of tearing the body lumen increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor members are inserted in an unexpanded, compact state through natural body lumens before being deployed. This preliminary insertion phase allows the anchors to pass through delicate tissue without causing damage, and only after proper positioning are they expanded to form secure anchor points, thereby separating the insertion action from the expansion action to minimize tissue trauma
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor members are designed with dynamic expansion capabilities, transitioning from a compact insertion configuration to an expanded anchoring configuration. This dynamic transformation allows the same component to perform two distinct functions: gentle insertion in compressed form and secure anchoring in expanded form, adapting its properties to minimize harm during insertion while maximizing grip during manipulation
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a surgical anchoring system can include inserting an outer sleeve of a surgical instrument at least partially into a first natural body lumen, the outer sleeve having a working channel. The method can include inserting a channel arm of the surgical instrument through the working channel of the outer sleeve and into a second natural body lumen. The channel arm has at least one first anchor member coupled thereto and a control actuator operatively coupled to the at least one first anchor member. The method can include expanding the at least one first anchor member from an unexpanded state to an expanded state to form an anchor point at a portion of the second natural body lumen. The method can include controlling, by the control actuator, a motion of the channel arm to selectively manipulate an organ associated with the first and second natural body lumens.