Surgical Robot Motion Boundaries for Remote Center Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

The mechanical arm of a surgical robot risks contacting or squeezing the patient during surgery due to its larger workspace compared to the required surgical operation, and there is a lack of external feedback for the lead surgeon, leading to potential secondary injuries.

Innovation Solution

The surgical robot is equipped with a mechanical arm and a control device that sets a current posture of an instrument holder as a motion boundary around a remote center of motion, controlling it to move in a preset mode to prevent collisions and ensure safe operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the mechanical arm is allowed to move freely with a large workspace, then the operational versatility is improved, but the risk of contacting or squeezing the patient increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveworkspaceVSAvoidpatient safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes motion boundaries in advance by setting the current posture of the instrument holder as a reference point. The control device calculates boundary positions based on the mechanical arm's current state and prevents movement beyond these boundaries, thereby preventing potential patient contact before it can occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device continuously monitors the mechanical arm's position and compares it against the pre-established motion boundaries. When the boundary is approached or reached, the system provides feedback by controlling the instrument holder to move in a preset motion mode that ensures it does not exceed the safe movement range, thus preventing patient contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the instrument holder is constrained to move within a limited range, then patient safety is improved, but the operational flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient safetyVSAvoidoperational flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The motion boundary is not a fixed constraint but is dynamically adjusted based on the mechanical arm's current posture and the preset motion mode. When the instrument holder reaches the boundary, it transitions to a preset motion mode that allows controlled movement while ensuring it does not contact the patient, thereby maintaining operational flexibility within safety limits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the lead surgeon operates from a remote console without external feedback, then remote surgery capability is improved, but the awareness of mechanical arm position deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote surgery capabilityVSAvoidmechanical arm position awareness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The control device provides automated feedback by monitoring the mechanical arm's position and enforcing motion boundaries. This feedback mechanism compensates for the surgeon's lack of direct visual feedback, ensuring the mechanical arm operates within safe limits even though the surgeon cannot see its exact position from the remote console.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4684751A1Surgical robot, control method therefor, system, and medium
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 SHENZHEN JINGFENG MEDICAL TECH CO LTD
  • EP4684751A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4684751A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4684751A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a surgical robot and a controlling method, a system, and a medium. The surgical robot includes: a mechanical arm and a control device, where an end of the mechanical arm is provided with an instrument holder for installing multiple surgical instruments. The control device is configured to control movement of the mechanical arm so that the multiple surgical instruments rotate around the same remote center of motion, and: in response to a boundary setting instruction, set the current posture of the instrument holder as the motion boundary for the instrument holder's movement around the remote center of motion; in response to the instrument holder rotating around the remote center of motion to the motion boundary, control the instrument holder to move in a preset motion mode. Using the solution of the present disclosure, the function of intraoperatively preventing the mechanical arm from squeezing the patient is added to the surgical robot, avoiding secondary injury to the patient caused by abnormal collisions, and improving safety and reliability of the surgical robot's operation.