Surgical Robot Interface Mode Segmentation Ergonomics
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical systems have less than ideal user interfaces, which can be non-intuitive, require numerous user inputs, and have controls that are not ideally located, leading to increased setup time and potentially less than ideal surgical experiences for surgeons.
Innovation Solution
A user interface for surgical systems that progresses through a series of modes and sub-modes, automatically generating images and overlaying markers and instructions, with a control panel partitioned from the image display area to improve ergonomics and intuitiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user interface requires numerous user inputs and separate screens for set up and planning procedures, then the system can provide detailed control options, but the setup time increases and user experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface is divided into distinct operational modes (setup mode, align mode, treatment mode) with each mode containing specific sub-modes. This segmentation allows the system to present only relevant controls and information at each step, reducing cognitive load and setup time while maintaining detailed control capabilities when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically generates images and pre-configures display parameters for each mode before the user needs them. Imaging devices are automatically positioned and configured, and treatment plans are pre-loaded, eliminating manual setup steps and reducing overall setup time.
2Loss of information
If controls are distributed across multiple screens, then the system can organize functions logically, but the user loses overall context and navigation becomes less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The interface merges multiple previously separate screens into an integrated display where treatment plans, imaging data, and control options are simultaneously visible. The consistent display area maintains context across mode transitions, allowing users to see their progress and remaining steps without navigating away from the main workflow view.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous feedback to the user about their current mode, completion status of each step, and progress through the overall procedure. This feedback mechanism helps users understand where they are in the setup process and what remains to be done, reducing anxiety and improving efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If the control panel is integrated with the image display area, then the interface can be compact, but user ergonomics and visual clarity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The interface is segmented into distinct functional zones: an image display area for visual information and a separate control panel area for interactions. This spatial segmentation improves ergonomics by placing controls in easily accessible locations while maintaining visual clarity through dedicated display spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The control panel is positioned below the image display area, utilizing the vertical dimension of the display. This dimensional arrangement allows both the image display and control panel to coexist without overlapping, providing clear visual hierarchy and improved user interaction ergonomics.
Data Source
AI summary
A user interface for a surgical system is configured to proceed through a plurality of modes and display a current mode among the plurality of modes. Each of the plurality of modes is associated with one or more sub-modes, and the user interface is configured to proceed through the plurality of modes and the plurality of sub-modes in sequence. The user interface is configured to automatically generate an image from an image source for each of the modes and sub-modes and overlay one or more markers on the image along with instructions to the user. The user interface is configured to provide a control panel comprising plurality of frequently used user inputs below a centerline of a display for ergonomics, and to highlight a current mode of the sequence on a display relative to the other modes to show progression through the sequence of modes.