Surgical Robotic Arm Support with Visual Marker Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic surgical systems require additional position sensors and components to determine the relative position of robot arms, increasing complexity and cost, and pose challenges in securely mounting arms to different surgical tables to prevent movement during surgery.
Innovation Solution
A surgical robotic arm support system with a base that surrounds the surgical table, featuring electrical and mechanical connections to calculate arm positions without additional sensors, and modular pieces for adjustable fit, along with electrical connectivity for power and signal transmission, ensuring secure arm positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional position sensors and components are used to determine the relative position of robot arms, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual markers (circles with unique patterns) placed on the surgical table and detected by a camera to represent position information. Instead of using complex position sensors on each robot arm, the system creates a visual map of the table surface and calculates arm positions based on image processing of these markers, thereby reducing hardware complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical position sensors with an optical system. A camera captures images of the surgical table with visual markers, and software processes these images to determine the relative positions of robot arms. This substitution of mechanical sensing with optical-digital processing reduces device complexity while achieving the required measurement precision
2Measurement precision
If additional position sensors and components are used to determine the relative position of robot arms, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses simple visual markers (printed circles with unique patterns) on the surgical table instead of expensive position sensors. These markers can be detected by a standard camera, and their positions are calculated through image processing algorithms. This approach achieves accurate relative position determination at a fraction of the cost of traditional sensor-based systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive visual markers that can be easily manufactured and attached to the surgical table. These markers serve as temporary, disposable position references that eliminate the need for expensive, durable position sensors. The markers can be replaced or repositioned as needed without significant cost
3Adaptability or versatility
If robot arms are mounted to movable carts that are wheeled to a desired position, then adaptability is improved, but reliability worsens due to potential movement during surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the positioning function into the surgical table itself by placing visual markers directly on the table surface. The robot arm positions are calculated relative to these markers, creating a unified reference system. This integration ensures that the positioning reference moves with the table but maintains stable relative positions, combining the adaptability of movable mounting with the reliability of fixed positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces visual markers as an intermediary between the surgical table and the robot arms. These markers serve as a stable reference frame that is attached to the table but detected optically rather than through physical mounting. This intermediary allows the system to adapt to different table positions while maintaining reliable, movement-free positioning during surgery
4Reliability
If robot arms are mounted directly to the surgical table, then reliability is improved by preventing movement, but adaptability worsens due to difficulty creating a universal interface for different table types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal positioning system using visual markers that can be placed on any surgical table regardless of its specific design or mounting interface. The same camera-based detection and image processing algorithms work across different table types, making the system universally applicable while maintaining reliable position stability during surgery
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical robotic arm support system may include a base and at least one post and/or a connection for coupling a robot arm to the support system. The base may be configured to at least partially surround a surgical table. The at least one post may have a first end supported on the base and a second end configured to support a robotic arm. The at least one post may be configured to be coupled to a surgical table. The connection may support a mechanical and/or electrical connectivity between the support system and a coupled robot arm. Electrical connectivity may be configured to identify at least one of the robot arm connections to which at least one robot arm is connected. Each robot arm connection may be configured to maintain a portion of a connected robot arm at a predetermined position from the base.