Surgical Hover Sensing for Pre-Activation Tissue Characterization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic surgical systems lack efficient methods for obtaining tissue characteristics prior to delivering therapeutic energy, leading to potential inefficiencies and increased procedure times due to the need for post-delivery adjustments.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a hover sensor and Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) sensor in the foot control console to detect tissue characteristics before initiating therapeutic energy delivery, allowing for pre-emptive adjustments to energy cycles based on tissue properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If tissue characteristics are determined after therapeutic energy delivery, then the system structure remains simple, but procedure time increases and precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The EIS sensor is integrated into the foot control console to detect tissue characteristics before therapeutic energy delivery is initiated. This preliminary detection allows the system to determine tissue properties in advance, enabling customization of energy delivery parameters and eliminating the need for post-delivery adjustments, thereby reducing overall procedure time without requiring complex system restructuring
2Measurement precision
If tissue characteristics are determined in advance, then precision and efficiency improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The EIS sensor is merged with the existing foot control console, combining tissue characterization functionality with the control interface. This integration allows precise tissue characteristic detection to be achieved without adding separate complex sensing systems, as the sensor is incorporated into an existing component that the operator already interacts with during the procedure
3Reliability
If therapeutic energy delivery is customized based on tissue characteristics, then treatment effectiveness improves, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback by using the EIS sensor to detect tissue characteristics and automatically adjusting therapeutic energy delivery parameters based on this information. The control unit receives tissue characteristic data from the sensor and modifies energy delivery accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that improves treatment effectiveness while automating the customization process to minimize manual intervention and control complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables customizable and efficient therapeutic energy delivery by determining tissue characteristics in advance, reducing procedure time and enhancing precision.
Implementation Method 1
an Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) sensor configured to transmit electrical energy to tissue in a sub-therapeutic energy cycle based on instructions from the control unit
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic surgical system, including: a robotic arm including a distal end; a tool driver operatively coupled with the distal end of the robotic arm; a control unit; a surgical instrument including: an end effector configured to transmit therapeutic energy to tissue via a therapeutic energy cycle based on instructions from the control unit; and an tissue sensor configured to determine at least one tissue characteristic and transmit the at least one tissue characteristic to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to modify the therapeutic energy cycle based on the at least one tissue characteristic; and a control console including: an activation switch configured to activate the therapeutic energy cycle, and a hover sensor configured to sense an object within a hover zone, wherein the hover sensor is configured to activate the tissue sensor to determine the at least one tissue characteristic.