Surgical Instrument Usage Tracking via Image and Sensor Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic surgical systems lack an effective method to accurately determine when surgical instruments have reached the end of their useful life, posing safety and effectiveness concerns.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize an imager and sensors to capture images and data during procedures, identifying the type of surgical instrument and determining its usage stage by correlating image data with sensor information, assigning values based on force application and task duration, and displaying the instrument's life cycle stage for clinician decision-making.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical instruments are used repeatedly without tracking, then productivity is maintained, but reliability deteriorates due to unknown instrument condition
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing instrument images and recording sensor data during each surgical procedure. This continuous preliminary data collection enables later determination of usage stages and lifetime assessment, ensuring reliability without requiring complex real-time monitoring during surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the surgical instrument through image capture and data recording. This digital representation tracks the instrument's usage patterns, force applications, and operational history, allowing reliability assessment without physically monitoring the actual instrument during surgery.
2Reliability
If usage tracking is implemented, then reliability improves through accurate lifetime determination, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument integrates multiple functions including surgical operation, self-monitoring via sensors, and image capture capability. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by eliminating separate dedicated tracking devices, as the instrument itself performs both surgical and monitoring functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical instrument performs self-service by autonomously capturing its own images and recording its operational data through integrated sensors. This self-monitoring capability eliminates the need for external complex tracking systems, as the instrument tracks its own usage and determines its own lifetime stage.
3Measurement precision
If real-time monitoring is performed, then measurement precision improves for usage tracking, but loss of time increases due to data processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary data collection during surgery by continuously capturing images and sensor readings. This preliminary action stores measurement data for later analysis, allowing precise usage tracking without requiring real-time processing that would consume surgical time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex real-time mechanical monitoring with optical imaging and electronic sensor data collection. This substitution allows precise measurement of instrument usage through image analysis and sensor readings without the time-consuming processing of continuous mechanical signals during surgery.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of tracking usage of a robotic surgical instrument includes capturing an image of a surgical instrument with an imager during a robotic surgical procedure, identifying a type of the surgical instrument based on the image of the surgical instrument, determining a degree of usage of the surgical instrument based on data acquired by at least one sensor, and determining a stage in a life cycle of the surgical instrument based on the type of surgical instrument identified and the degree of usage determined.