Surgical Manipulator Tool Identification via Short-Range Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical manipulator systems require bothersome setting and switching operations to associate a master manipulator with a slave-driven treatment tool, lacking intuitive control.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an identification-information retaining portion on the treatment tool and a manipulation-side reading portion in the surgical manipulator system for short-distance communication, allowing the control portion to read and manage identification information, enabling intuitive association and control of the treatment tool based on input manipulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual setting and switching operations are used to associate master manipulator with treatment tool, then the system can maintain simple structure, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to bothersome setting and switching operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of association between master and treatment toolVSAvoidcomplexity of identification system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment tool automatically transmits its identification information to the manipulation input portion when brought into short-distance communication range, eliminating the need for manual setting operations. The system self-associates the master manipulator with the treatment tool through automatic ID recognition and pairing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical setting operations with wireless short-distance communication (electromagnetic field-based communication). The manipulation input portion reads identification information from the treatment tool via radio frequency or similar wireless communication, substituting physical connection and manual configuration with automated electronic identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If multiple treatment tools are managed manually, then the system structure remains simple, but the loss of time increases due to repeated setting and switching operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of tool switchingVSAvoidtime for setting and switching operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Each treatment tool is pre-equipped with identification information stored in its identification-information retaining portion. Before actual use, the tools are prepared with unique identifiers that enable rapid recognition and association, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual configuration during surgical procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The manipulation input portion reads identification information from the treatment tool and provides feedback to the control portion, which then automatically associates the correct master manipulator with the identified treatment tool. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures rapid and accurate tool switching without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If automatic identification system is implemented, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional reading portions and communication interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintuitive control of treatment toolVSAvoidcomplexity of communication interface

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manipulation input portion serves dual functions: it acts as both the control interface for the master manipulator and the reading device for treatment tool identification. This multi-functional design integrates the communication interface into existing components rather than adding separate dedicated hardware, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 intuitive manipulation and control of treatment tools without requiring burdensome setting or switching operations, allowing for seamless association and management of multiple tools within the system.

Implementation Method 1

the manipulation input portion is provided with a manipulation-side reading portion that performs short-distance communication with the identification-information retaining portion of the treatment tool, thus reading the identification information of the treatment tool

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShort-distance communication:

Data Source

PatentUS10258420B2Surgical manipulator system

Publication Date: 2019.04.16 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

Provided is a surgical manipulator system including: a manipulator provided with a treatment tool having at least one joint and a drive portion that is attached to the treatment tool to drive the treatment tool; a manipulation input portion with which manipulation for causing, by driving the drive portion, the treatment tool to perform a desired operation is input; and a control portion that controls the drive portion on the basis of the manipulation that has been input via the manipulation input portion, wherein the treatment tool is provided with an identification-information retaining portion that retains identification information of the treatment tool, the manipulation input portion is provided with a manipulation-side reading portion that performs short-distance communication with the identification-information retaining portion, thus reading the identification information of the treatment tool, and the control portion controls the drive portion based on the read identification information of the treatment tool.