Surgical Instrument Usage Prediction Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical instruments used with robotic systems have a finite life due to wear and tear, and there is a need for a system and method to track and predict instrument use to prevent using them beyond their preset lifetimes.
Innovation Solution
A surgical robotic system that includes a robotic arm, a surgical instrument configured to couple with the robotic arm, and a controller that accesses usage data, calculates a predicted number of uses remaining for the surgical instrument, and disables the instrument based on this prediction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If surgical instruments are used continuously to maximize productivity, then productivity increases, but the instrument reliability deteriorates due to wear and tear exceeding finite lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary tracking of usage data (time, cycles, operations) and calculates predicted remaining uses before the instrument actually fails. This allows proactive scheduling of replacements or maintenance, ensuring the instrument is replaced before wear and tear causes reliability to deteriorate, thus maintaining both high productivity and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors usage data from the surgical instrument and provides feedback through the controller about predicted remaining uses. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust usage patterns, schedule maintenance, or alert users before the instrument reaches its failure point, balancing productivity maximization with reliability preservation
2Reliability
If the system tracks and predicts instrument use to ensure reliability, then instrument reliability is maintained, but the device complexity increases due to additional tracking and calculation components
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it controls the surgical robotic system operations, tracks usage data from the instrument, calculates predicted remaining uses, and manages communication with the display. By making the controller multi-functional, the system maintains reliability through tracking without adding separate dedicated hardware components, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical instrument includes an integrated storage device that automatically stores usage data without requiring external intervention. The system self-monitors its own usage parameters (time, cycles, operations) and self-calculates predicted remaining uses through algorithms executed by the controller, reducing the need for complex external monitoring infrastructure
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical robotic system includes a controller configured to access usage data pertaining to a surgical instrument and to estimate a predicted number of uses remaining for the surgical instrument. The controller is further configured to enable or disable the surgical instrument based on the predicted number of uses remaining.