Surgical Robot Layout for Autonomous Cutting and Clear Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current haptic orthopedic surgical robots require user-initiated manual guidance of cutting tools, limiting user flexibility, interfering with workspace access, and introducing tracking errors due to navigation system positioning.
Innovation Solution
A layout for surgical robotic systems with an active cutting system positioned adjacent to the patient, a navigation system on the opposite side, and a user controller on one lateral side, allowing autonomous cut path execution with intuitive user control and minimizing occlusion and collision risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the articulated robotic arm is positioned close to the patient for manual guidance, then the user can control the cutting tool, but the robotic arm and cart crowd the user and interfere with movement and visual clarity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the navigation system from the traditional opposite side of the patient to the same side as the user, utilizing the lateral dimension of the operating room. This spatial reconfiguration allows the user to access both the controller and navigation displays without turning, while the robotic arm maintains its positioning near the patient for cutting operations, thereby resolving the workspace crowding issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the navigation function from the cutting function by positioning them at different locations. The robotic arm with cutting tool remains near the patient, while the navigation system with displays and controller is positioned at the user's side. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each function's spatial requirements.
2Measurement precision
If the navigation system is positioned on the opposite side of the patient, then tracking cameras can monitor the surgical site, but personnel occlude the cameras and the user must turn to view displays
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system is relocated from the opposite side (longitudinal dimension) to the user's lateral side, creating a new spatial arrangement. This allows the tracking cameras to maintain their line of sight to the surgical site while the user can view navigation displays without turning, as both are now within the user's forward field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the user controller and navigation system displays into a single location at the user's side. This merging of control and navigation functions into one accessible location eliminates the need for the user to turn or reach across the operating room, improving ease of operation while maintaining tracking accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If haptic robotic systems require user-initiated cutting, then the user provides control input, but the system limits user flexibility and requires demanding manual physical guidance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical hand-guided control system with an electronic control interface. Instead of requiring the user to physically manipulate the robotic arm through haptic feedback, the system uses a controller with electronic inputs that send commands to the robotic system. This substitution reduces the physical demands on the user while maintaining precise control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
An electronic controller serves as an intermediary between the user and the robotic cutting system. The user interacts with the controller through simplified inputs rather than directly manipulating the complex robotic mechanisms. This intermediary layer translates user intent into robotic actions, improving user flexibility and reducing operational complexity.
4Ease of operation
If the articulated robotic arm is positioned for manual guidance, then cutting control is achieved, but the cart and arm collide with the user and assistant in the operating theater
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the heavy cart and control systems from the center of the operating room to the user's lateral side, utilizing the unused lateral space. This spatial reconfiguration removes the cart and control equipment from the central workflow area, eliminating collision risks with the user and assistant while maintaining the robotic arm's ability to reach the surgical site.
Data Source
AI summary
Autonomous surgical robotic systems and methods with advantages component layout. The system includes a patient support, an active cutting system positioned adjacent to the patient support on a first lateral side of the patient support, an electronic controller positioned adjacent to the patient support on a second lateral side of the patient support that opposes the first lateral side of the patient support. The system further includes at least one fixed patient tracking array configured to couple to a patient on the patient support at a fixed positional relationship to a surgical site of the patient, and a navigation system with at least one positional tracking camera system positioned on the first lateral side of the patient support.