Surgical Pedal Console with Haptic Feedback for Energy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In robotic surgical systems, surgeons face challenges in accurately controlling electrosurgical tools due to difficulty in monitoring the application of energy to tissue, often leading to inadvertent tissue damage from mis-positioned foot pedals and confusion between multiple instruments, which decreases surgical efficiency and increases tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
An ergonomic control console with a pedal system that includes an adjustable pedal tray and haptic/tactile feedback mechanisms, providing visual, auditory, and haptic cues to ensure accurate energy application and instrument control, allowing surgeons to maintain focus on the surgical site while managing multiple instruments effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a surgeon uses multiple foot pedals to control different electrosurgical tools, then the surgical functionality is enhanced, but the risk of mis-positioned foot and inadvertent energy application to tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time visual feedback through a display device that shows which electrosurgical tool is currently active and receives energy. The graphical user interface displays icons representing each tool with indicators showing energy delivery status, allowing the surgeon to confirm proper tool selection before energy application. This feedback mechanism prevents inadvertent energy application by making the active tool visible and identifiable.
Solution Approach 2:
The control console acts as an intermediary between the surgeon's foot pedal inputs and the electrosurgical tools. The console receives signals from multiple foot pedals, processes them through a control system, and selectively activates the appropriate tool. This intermediary layer adds a verification step that prevents direct, error-prone connection between foot position and tool activation.
2Measurement precision
If a surgeon focuses concentration on the display device to monitor tissue, then surgical precision is improved, but the ability to monitor foot position and prevent mis-application is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The display device provides comprehensive visual feedback that includes both the surgical field view and the status of electrosurgical tools. The graphical user interface simultaneously displays tissue visualization and tool activation status, allowing the surgeon to monitor both aspects without shifting focus. This integrated feedback enables continuous awareness of both surgical precision and energy application safety.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple electrosurgical tools are used in the surgical site, then surgical versatility is enhanced, but surgeon confusion about which tool is being energized increases
Solution Approach 1:
The graphical user interface uses color-coded indicators to distinguish between different electrosurgical tools and their activation states. Each tool icon is displayed with specific color coding that changes based on whether the tool is active or inactive, providing immediate visual differentiation. This color-based information encoding prevents confusion about which tool is being energized among multiple tools in the surgical site.
Solution Approach 2:
The control console's display system serves as an intermediary that translates the complex state of multiple electrosurgical tools into clear, differentiated visual representations. The graphical user interface maps each physical tool to a distinct digital icon with unique visual characteristics, maintaining a clear correspondence between physical and digital representations that prevents tool identification errors.
4Measurement precision
If the control console provides comprehensive feedback mechanisms, then energy application accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control console integrates multiple functions into a single unified system. The foot pedals, display device, graphical user interface, and tool activation control are combined in one console that manages all electrosurgical tools. This multi-functional integration provides comprehensive feedback and control capabilities while avoiding the complexity of separate independent control systems for each tool.
Data Source
AI summary
A control console to remotely control medical equipment is disclosed having a base with an ergonomically adjustable pedal system. The base further has an opening to receive the pedal system. The pedal system includes a moveable pedal tray with a pedal base. The tray includes a first left pedal assembly and a first right pedal assembly, and an upper tier having a second left pedal assembly and a second right pedal assembly respectively in alignment with and elevated above the first left pedal assembly and the first right pedal assembly. Rollers are rotatable coupled to the moveable pedal tray to allow it roll over a floor. A drive assembly is coupled between the moveable pedal tray and the base. The drive assembly applies a force to the to roll the moveable pedal tray over the floor within the opening of the base.