Surgical Instrument Tool Placement Sensing via Drive Parameter Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Powered surgical instruments face challenges in accurately determining tool placement relative to patient anatomy due to subjective surgeon feedback, anatomical variations, and noise in sensor signals, leading to potential tissue damage and reduced repeatability.

Innovation Solution

A measurement system with sensors to monitor tool drive parameters like axial force and torque, using filtering, integral values, and moving averages to identify changes in tool drive parameters over specific axial displacements, thereby improving signal analysis and reducing false indications of placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a surgeon relies solely on their senses to determine tool placement, then the surgeon can operate the powered instrument, but the measurement precision and reliability of tool placement deteriorate due to subjective feedback and anatomical variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidmeasurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the surgeon's sensory-based mechanical judgment with an electronic sensor system that objectively measures tool drive parameters (torque, axial force, power). Sensors detect these parameters and transmit signals to a controller that determines tool placement, substituting human sensory limitation with precise electronic measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces sensors and a controller as intermediary elements between the powered instrument and the surgeon. The sensors act as mediators that convert physical tool-anatomy interactions into electrical signals, which the controller then processes to provide objective placement information, eliminating the need for the surgeon to directly sense tool placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If powered surgical instruments are used to improve surgical efficiency, then productivity increases, but the risk of tissue damage increases due to reduced tactile feedback

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveproductivityVSAvoidharmful factors

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback system where sensors continuously monitor tool drive parameters during powered instrument operation. The controller receives these signals and determines tool placement in real-time, providing feedback that allows the surgeon to maintain high productivity while preventing tissue damage through objective placement verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary determination of tool placement using sensor data before the surgeon completes the surgical action. The controller analyzes tool drive parameters to identify when the tool has reached the desired placement relative to anatomical structures, allowing the surgeon to stop the powered instrument at the precise moment before tissue damage occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If traditional sensor analysis is used to determine tool placement, then the system can detect tool position, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to noise and short-term variations in sensor signals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedifficulty of detecting and measuringVSAvoidmeasurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary filtering of sensor signals to remove noise and short-term variations before analyzing tool placement. The controller applies filtering algorithms to the raw sensor data, eliminating spurious signals that would otherwise lead to false placement indications, thereby improving measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic sampling and analysis of tool drive parameters over defined time periods or displacement intervals. Rather than reacting to instantaneous sensor readings, the controller analyzes patterns of tool drive parameters across multiple sampling points, identifying true placement events while filtering out transient noise through periodic evaluation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3672501B1Sensing of surgical instrument placement relative to anatomic structures

Publication Date: 2023.06.14 MCGINLEY ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS LLC

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AI summary

Systems and methods related to use of a measurement system in conjunction with a powered instrument for determination of the placement of a tool portion relative to the anatomy of a patient utilizing the powered instrument. The measurement system may include a displacement sensor that indicates the relative displacement of the tool portion relative to the anatomy. The system may also include a sensor for monitoring a tool drive signal representative of a tool drive parameter that is characteristic of the tool portion acting on the anatomy. The tool drive signal may be analyzed relative to a given amount of axial displacement as measured by the displacement sensor to avoid false indications of placement based on noise and or other artifacts in the tool drive signal that may result from characteristics of the anatomy and/or operational behaviors of the surgeon utilizing the instrument.