Articulating Surgical Camera Control Across Multiple Anatomical Quadrants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical procedures often require multiple incisions or access points for minimally invasive surgery, limiting the ability to provide multiple perspectives and requiring awkward arm motions from physicians, and lack efficient systems for controlling multiple surgical tools and cameras from a single ergonomic position.
Innovation Solution
A robotic system with multiple cannulas and robotic arms that can position surgical tools and articulatable cameras in different anatomical quadrants, allowing for simultaneous control and repositioning of instruments to provide multiple perspectives during procedures, with a user interface for seamless operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cannulas are positioned in different anatomical quadrants to provide multiple perspectives, then the ability to view multiple regions is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the surgical field into multiple anatomical quadrants, with each quadrant accessible through a separate cannula. Each robotic arm is assigned to control specific tools or cameras in particular quadrants, segmenting the complex task of multi-region visualization and control into manageable, independent units that can be operated separately yet coordinated together.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arms are designed with universal capability to perform multiple functions - they can hold and control various surgical tools (graspers, scissors, staplers) as well as articulatable cameras. This multi-functionality allows a single robotic arm to switch between providing surgical manipulation and providing visual perspectives from different quadrants, reducing the need for separate dedicated devices for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cannulas and robotic arms are used to access multiple quadrants, then access to complex anatomical regions is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to awkward arm motions
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arms serve as intermediaries between the surgeon's control inputs and the surgical tools/cameras in the patient's body. The robotic system translates surgeon commands into precise, coordinated movements of multiple tools and cameras across different quadrants, eliminating the need for the surgeon to perform awkward physical arm motions directly while maintaining full control over multi-quadrant access and visualization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple surgical tools and cameras are controlled manually, then flexibility is improved, but productivity decreases due to lack of coordinated control
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the control of multiple surgical tools and articulatable cameras under a single integrated robotic control system. The robotic arms and control unit coordinate the movements and operations of all tools and cameras simultaneously, allowing flexible adaptation to different surgical needs while maintaining high productivity through automated, synchronized control rather than separate manual operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulatable cameras provide real-time visual feedback from multiple quadrants to the control system. This feedback loop allows the robotic system to continuously monitor the surgical field and automatically adjust the positioning and operation of surgical tools based on the visual information, enabling coordinated control that maintains both flexibility and high productivity throughout the procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are systems and techniques for providing multiple perspectives during medical procedures. In one aspect, a method includes positioning a plurality of cannulas in a plurality of anatomical quadrants of a patient, inserting first and second surgical tools coupled to corresponding robotic arms into the respective cannulas. The method may include inserting an articulatable camera coupled to another robotic arm into another of the cannulas, where the articulatable camera is capable of showing a first view including the first surgical tool in a first anatomical quadrant and articulating to show a second view including the second surgical tool in a second anatomical quadrant. The method may further involve performing a surgical procedure in at least one of the first anatomical quadrant or the second anatomical quadrant.