Multi-Arm Robotic Telesurgery Tool State Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive surgical robotic systems face limitations in communication and coordination among team members, leading to potential interruptions, delays, and mistakes during telesurgical procedures, due to the lack of effective interfaces for conveying information about tool states and control changes.
Innovation Solution
A robotic system with activatable indicators, such as multi-color LEDs, that provide identifiable signals to communicate tool states, control changes, and fault conditions, allowing for enhanced communication between surgical team members without diverting the surgeon's attention, and enabling efficient tool replacement and reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional control systems without visual indicators are used, then the system structure remains simple, but communication and coordination among team members deteriorates leading to interruptions and delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes through multi-color LEDs to communicate different tool states and control changes visually. Different colors indicate different operational states, enabling rapid information transfer without adding complex mechanical or electronic systems. This resolves the contradiction by improving communication effectiveness through optical signal changes rather than structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual indicators serve as an intermediary communication channel between the control system and team members. Rather than requiring direct verbal communication or complex interface interactions, the indicators mediate information transfer about tool states and control changes, reducing information loss while maintaining simple system architecture.
2Loss of information
If the surgeon monitors tool states through existing interfaces, then complete information is available, but the surgeon's attention is diverted from the surgical site
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts critical tool state information and presents it through visual indicators on the robotic arm itself, separate from the main surgical display. This allows the surgeon to perceive tool states peripherally without diverting attention from the surgical site, maintaining complete information awareness while preserving surgical focus.
Solution Approach 2:
Visual indicators using color changes provide immediate tool state feedback in the surgeon's peripheral vision. The color-coded system communicates essential information without requiring the surgeon to shift focus to screens or controls, thereby reducing attention diversion while maintaining complete information availability.
3Productivity
If manual tool replacement procedures are used, then the system remains simple to operate, but procedural efficiency and coordination deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The visual indicators provide real-time feedback about tool states and control changes, enabling coordinated tool replacement procedures. The feedback mechanism allows team members to understand current states immediately, facilitating efficient and error-free tool changes without requiring complex automated systems, thus improving productivity while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual indicators mediate the tool replacement process by providing clear state information to all team members. This intermediary communication system coordinates actions between the surgeon, assistant, and technical staff, enabling efficient tool changes without compromising operational simplicity or requiring complex automated replacement mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system improves communication and coordination among telesurgical team members, reducing errors and interruptions, and enhancing patient outcomes by providing clear, visual, and actionable feedback on tool states and control changes, thus increasing procedural efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A visual indicator associated with each manipulator assembly (and, hence, each surgical instrument) of a multi-arm telesurgical system may include a multi-color light emitting diode (LED)
Data Source
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AI summary
Medical and/or robotic devices, systems and methods can provide an indicator (20) associated with each manipulator assembly (8, 32) of a multi-arm telerobotic or telesurgical system. The exemplary indicator comprises a multi-color light emitting diode (LED) (20) mounted to a manipulator (8, 32) moving an associated surgical instrument, allowing the indicator (20) to display any of a wide variety of signals. The invention provides an additional display (14) viewable by an assistant to facilitate communications between the telesurgical system and/or members of a telesurgical team.