Surgical Workflow Control for Collision-Aware Image Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical suites are complex environments with multiple caregivers and equipment, leading to unpredictable scheduling, device interactions, and increased risk of collisions, requiring improved integration and management of audio and video resources for enhanced safety and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A workflow assistance system combining computer vision, robotic interventional imaging, and AI-enabled controllers to identify and locate subjects within the surgical suite, providing operational commands to prevent collisions, automate equipment interaction, and enhance sterile procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple caregivers and complex equipment are deployed in the surgical suite to perform minimally invasive procedures, then the quality of patient care and imaging guidance are improved, but the complexity of the surgical environment and risk of collisions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously captures surveillance video data, processes it through computer vision algorithms to detect personnel and equipment locations, and provides real-time feedback by generating operational commands to the imaging system. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables dynamic adaptation to the complex surgical environment, maintaining high patient care quality while managing environmental complexity through automated situational awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The workflow controller acts as an intermediary between the surveillance system and the interventional imaging system. It processes surveillance data, identifies personnel and equipment, and translates this information into operational commands for the imaging system, thereby mediating the interaction between multiple caregivers and complex equipment without requiring direct human-to-device control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the interventional imaging system moves freely to acquire images from different angles, then imaging flexibility and diagnostic quality are improved, but the risk of collision with personnel and equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the imaging system's movement by continuously analyzing surveillance data to determine real-time locations of personnel and equipment. The workflow controller generates operational commands that adapt the imaging system's trajectory and positioning dynamically, allowing it to move freely for imaging flexibility while automatically avoiding collisions with moving personnel and stationary equipment through real-time environmental awareness.
3Ease of operation
If manual monitoring and control of the surgical suite is maintained, then direct human control and quick decision-making are preserved, but labor intensity and potential for human error increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring the surgical suite environment through surveillance cameras, processing video data to identify personnel and equipment, and generating operational commands for the imaging system without requiring continuous manual intervention. This reduces labor intensity and potential for human error while maintaining ease of operation, as clinicians can issue high-level directives and the system handles the complex real-time monitoring and command generation autonomously.
Data Source
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AI summary
A workflow assistance system 50 for image guided surgical procedures includes an interventional imaging system 20. The interventional imaging system 20 operates to move relative to a patient and to acquire interventional images during a surgical procedure. A surveillance system 70 is arranged about a surgical suite and produces surveillance data. A workflow controller processes the surveillance data to identify locations of clinicians, the patient, the interventional imaging system, and medical equipment within the surgical suite and provide operational commands to the interventional imaging system based upon the surveillance data.