Surgical Arm Visual Coding for Rapid Axis Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a surgical arm that can be adjusted quickly and accurately, and for providing visual guidance to efficiently operate such a surgical arm during a surgical procedure.
Innovation Solution
A surgical arm with multiple adjustment members configured to adjust relative to different axes, marked with distinct visual codings, and a method of providing visual guidance using a surgical navigation system to align the arm with a pre-determined surgical approach.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the surgical arm is equipped with multiple adjustment members for precise positioning, then the manufacturing precision and reliability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies visual coding (color changes) to operating members to differentiate their functions. Each operating member is assigned a specific color or visual pattern that corresponds to its adjustment axis, enabling surgeons to quickly identify and operate the correct member without complex labeling or instructions, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.
2Ease of operation
If visual coding is added to operating members for easier identification, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements visual coding through color marking on operating members. This allows surgeons to rapidly identify the correct operating member for each adjustment axis during surgery, improving ease of operation. The visual coding is integrated into the existing structure as surface markings rather than separate components, minimizing the increase in device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the surgical arm requires multiple adjustment operations for proper alignment, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-planning the surgical approach and pre-positioning the surgical arm according to the planned trajectory before the actual surgical procedure begins. The visual coding system further supports this by guiding surgeons through the adjustment process in a predetermined sequence, reducing the time required for alignment while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through visual guidance systems that provide real-time information about the surgical arm's position relative to the planned surgical approach. This feedback mechanism allows surgeons to make precise adjustments more quickly by immediately seeing the effect of their actions, resolving the contradiction between alignment precision and adjustment time.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical arm is presented. The surgical arm comprises a first interface configured to receive a device for performing or assisting a surgical procedure and multiple adjustment members configured to adjust the surgical arm relative to a respective adjustment axis. The surgical arm further comprises at least two operating members configured to operate different ones of the adjustment members, wherein the operating members are marked with different visual codings. Further a method for providing visual guidance for operating the surgical arm according to a pre-determined surgical approach is presented.