Surgical Robotic System for Eye Surgery with User-Confirmed Displacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ocular surgical robotic systems face challenges in precision due to reliance on noisy sensor data and limited visibility, leading to apprehension among surgeons about fully automated procedures, as they struggle to accurately position surgical instruments without manual control.

Innovation Solution

A surgical robotic system with a movable arm, sensor, user interface, and processor subsystem that allows user confirmation of displacement distances before automated movement, ensuring precision and reliability by integrating sensor data with manual control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If fully automated movement of surgical instrument is implemented, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to noisy sensor data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of surgical instrument movementVSAvoidaccuracy of surgical instrument positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously obtains sensor data indicating distance between the surgical instrument and surgical target, processes this data through a processor subsystem, and uses the processed information to adjust and control the actuator's movement. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows automated operation while compensating for sensor noise and maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

A processor subsystem acts as an intermediary between the noisy sensor and the actuator. The processor receives raw sensor data, applies filtering and processing algorithms to extract accurate distance information, and then uses this processed information to control the actuator, thereby mediating the unreliable sensor data into reliable control commands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If manual control is maintained for precision, then reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to hand tremor effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of surgical instrument placementVSAvoidspeed and consistency of instrument movement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical control with an automated actuator system that is driven by processed sensor feedback. The actuator mechanically moves the surgical instrument based on electronic control signals derived from sensor data, eliminating hand tremors while maintaining precision through closed-loop control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If sensor data is used for automated positioning, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to noisy or obscured sensor readings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated instrument positioning capabilityVSAvoidaccuracy of distance measurement between instrument and target

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The processor subsystem serves as an intermediary that receives noisy sensor readings and applies processing algorithms to extract accurate distance measurements. It filters out noise and compensates for obscured readings, converting unreliable raw sensor data into precise measurement information for control purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors sensor data and uses feedback processing to improve measurement accuracy over time. By continuously comparing sensor readings with expected values and adjusting interpretations, the system maintains measurement precision even when individual sensor readings are noisy or partially obscured.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Reliability

If user control is added to automated system, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety and user oversight of automated movementVSAvoidcontrol system architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically adjusts the level of automation based on processing results. The processor can operate in different modes, adjusting the degree of user involvement and automated control depending on sensor data quality and surgical context, thereby managing complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20240277425A1Surgical robotic system for eye surgery and control of the same

Publication Date: 2024.08.22 PRECEYES BV

AI summary

A system includes a surgical arm comprising a movable arm part of an instrument connector for mounting of a surgical instrument having a longitudinal axis. The movable arm part has at least one degree of freedom to enable longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument along its longitudinal axis, towards or away from an ocular surgical target. The system comprises a sensor, user interface, actuator and processor subsystem, which is configured to obtain sensor data at an initial position of the surgical instrument, determine an initial distance between the surgical instrument and the surgical target, obtain data indicating a target position of the surgical instrument, determine a displacement distance, output a sensory-perceptible representation of the displacement distance, receive a confirmation signal from the user, and control the actuator to actuate the movable arm part to effect a single movement of the surgical instrument.