Tracked Robotic Cut Guide Control for Precise Surgical Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical cutting guide technologies face challenges in precision due to patient movement and obstructed visual access, and the integration of robotics in surgery often comes with high costs and longer operation times.
Innovation Solution
A robotic arm system with a cut guide that uses a tracking and control system to establish safety, interaction, and free-drive zones, allowing for precise alignment and movement of a surgical instrument within predetermined planes or lines, enabling both autonomous and interactive control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a manual cut guide is used for surgical cutting, then the surgeon can perform the procedure with standard equipment, but the precision is reduced due to patient movement and obstructed visual access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning of cut guides with an autonomous robotic system that uses tracking technology and computer control to position and maintain the cutting guide. The robotic arm with end effector automatically adjusts the guide's position and orientation based on real-time tracking data, eliminating the need for manual alignment while improving precision despite patient movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses tracking technology to create a digital representation or copy of the patient's anatomy and the cutting guide's position. This virtual model allows the system to calculate and maintain precise alignment automatically, replacing the need for direct visual observation and manual adjustment by the surgeon.
2Manufacturing precision
If robotics is integrated into surgical procedures to improve precision, then cutting accuracy is enhanced, but the cost and operation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs surgical planning and trajectory calculation before the actual cutting procedure. The system pre-determines the optimal cutting path and positions the robotic arm accordingly, so that during the actual surgery, the robot can execute the pre-planned movements efficiently without requiring complex real-time calculations, thereby reducing operation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous tracking and real-time adjustment of the cutting guide's position throughout the surgical procedure. The robotic system maintains continuous control over the guide's alignment, automatically compensating for patient movement without interrupting the cutting process, thus maintaining precision while minimizing delays.
3Measurement precision
If autonomous robotic control is used for cutting guide positioning, then precision is improved, but the surgeon's direct control is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where the robotic arm continuously monitors the position and orientation of the cutting guide relative to the patient's anatomy using tracking technology. This real-time feedback allows the system to automatically adjust and maintain precise alignment while keeping the surgeon informed of the current status, enabling a balance between autonomous precision and surgical control.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of a system and method for surgical tracking and control are generally described herein. A system may include a robotic arm configured to allow interactive movement and controlled autonomous movement of an end effector, a cut guide mounted to the end effector of the robotic arm, the cut guide configured to guide a surgical instrument within a plane, a tracking system to determine a position and an orientation of the cut guide, and a control system to permit or prevent interactive movement or autonomous movement of the end effector.