Surgical System Control Apparatus for Non-Overlapping Instrument Position Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical systems face difficulties in displaying the positional relationships of multiple surgical instruments with respect to the endoscope's field of view without overlapping with other information, making it challenging for operators to safely and precisely control the medical equipment.

Innovation Solution

A control apparatus is configured to display a graphical user interface on the display device, including separate areas for each surgical instrument and a surgical instrument position display area that indicates their positions relative to the endoscope's field of view, preventing overlap and enhancing visibility of instrument positions both within and outside the field of view.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a symbol indicating surgical instrument position is displayed at the edge portion of the display area, then the position information is provided, but the symbol overlaps with other information and becomes difficult to see

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstrument position informationVSAvoiddisplay clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual window representing the endoscope's field of view that is superimposed on the actual video image. This window provides a second dimensional layer of information showing instrument positions relative to the field of view boundaries, allowing position information to be displayed without occupying the same visual space as the primary surgical view.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual window acts as an intermediary element between the surgical instruments and the video display. It translates physical instrument positions into visual representations within the window, providing indirect but clear position information without directly overlaying symbols on the main video feed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If multiple information elements are displayed at the edge portion of the display area, then comprehensive information is provided, but the display becomes cluttered and hard to read

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation quantityVSAvoiddisplay readability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display information is segmented into distinct functional areas: the main video display area showing the surgical field, and a separate virtual window area showing instrument position information. This segmentation allows multiple types of information to be presented simultaneously without mutual interference, maintaining readability while providing comprehensive data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If the field of view of the endoscope is enlarged, then more surgical site details are visible, but the position relationship with instruments outside the field of view cannot be grasped

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurgical site visibilityVSAvoidinstrument position context
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual window creates an additional dimensional context that shows instrument positions relative to the enlarged field of view. Even when the main video is zoomed in on surgical details, the window maintains a broader spatial context, allowing surgeons to grasp both fine details and overall instrument positioning simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3788977B1Surgical system
Publication Date: 2023.06.14 MEDICAROID CORP
  • EP3788977B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3788977B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3788977B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Control apparatus for a remote control apparatus for a surgical system having a patient-side apparatus, wherein said control apparatus is configured and arranged to control at least a display device of the remote control apparatus, and further configured and arranged to display, on the display device, a graphical user interface overlapped with the image captured by an endoscope of the patient-side apparatus, the graphical user interface including a first area that indicates information on a first surgical instrument of the patient-side apparatus (200), a second area that indicates information on a third surgical instrument of the patient-side apparatus, a third area that indicates information on a second surgical instrument patient-side apparatus, which are arranged in one of an upper end portion and an lower end portion in a display area of the display device and further including, at a position different from that of the one of the upper end portion and the lower end portion in the display area, a surgical instrument position display area that indicates positional relationships of the first, second, third surgical instruments with respect to a field of view of the endoscope.