Vibroacoustic Signal Detection Device for Minimally Invasive Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive surgical procedures (MIS) face challenges due to reduced sensory perceptions for surgeons, including limited visual, tactile, and auditory feedback, leading to potential errors and complications, with existing solutions being costly, complex, and unable to fully compensate for the missing sensory inputs.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for detecting and evaluating vibroacoustic signals using a signal acquisition device, sensor, and data processing system that can be integrated with medical instruments to provide enhanced sensory feedback, allowing for the detection of vibrations and acoustic signals from interactions with tissues, which are then processed to provide detailed and dynamic feedback to surgeons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive surgical instruments are used, then patient trauma is reduced and recovery time is shortened, but sensory feedback for the surgeon is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multiple feedback mechanisms including visual feedback through integrated cameras and displays showing real-time surgical field images, tactile feedback through force sensors that measure interaction forces between instruments and tissue, and auditory feedback through acoustic sensors that capture sounds from the surgical site. This multi-sensory feedback system compensates for the loss of natural sensory feedback in minimally invasive surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces various intermediary sensors and transducers that mediate between the surgical instrument and the surgeon. These include force sensors, acoustic sensors, and visual cameras that convert physical interactions at the surgical site into perceivable signals for the surgeon, effectively acting as intermediaries that bridge the gap created by minimally invasive instrumentation.
2Measurement precision
If direct sensor integration into medical instruments is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensing system into separate modular components including vibration sensors, acoustic sensors, and signal processing units that can be independently designed, tested, and integrated. This modular approach reduces the complexity of integrating multiple sensor types while maintaining measurement precision through coordinated operation of segmented sensing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs multi-functional sensor designs where single sensor elements serve multiple purposes. For example, certain sensors can detect both vibration and acoustic signals, or force and position information, reducing the total number of components needed and simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining comprehensive measurement capabilities.
3Loss of information
If video recording and analysis is used for surgical support, then visual information is enhanced, but storage space requirements and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates only the most relevant visual and sensory information from the surgical field using selective sensing and signal processing. Instead of recording all visual data, the system identifies and captures specific features such as tissue interaction forces, characteristic acoustic signals, and key visual events, significantly reducing storage requirements while maintaining surgical support effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial recording strategies where only critical portions of the surgical procedure are captured in high detail, while other portions use reduced-resolution or event-triggered recording. This approach provides sufficient visual information support for surgical decision-making while minimizing storage space consumption through selective data capture.
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 solution enables more precise and detailed monitoring of surgical procedures, allowing for real-time feedback beyond the limitations of visual methods, reducing storage requirements, and providing a cost-effective means to enhance surgical precision and safety.
Implementation Method 1
When a part of the medical instrument, such as the shaft or initially the tip, comes into contact with a tissue as defined below, a mechanical vibration is generated at the contact point
Implementation Method 2
The vibration propagates passively, without the need for an active or activating component, as a vibroacoustic wave throughout the entire instrument
Implementation Method 3
The coupling element is indirectly connected at its proximal end to the at least one sensor and is suitable for transmitting vibroacoustic signals from the instrument to the at least one sensor with as little interference and loss as possible
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for connecting to a medical instrument for detecting vibroacoustic signals, wherein the device comprises a signal detection device (4) with a coupling element (4a) for connecting a medical instrument (2), at least one sensor (4c) for detecting vibroacoustic signals, an analog-to-digital converter (4e) for converting the analog signals detected by the at least one sensor into digital data, a controller (4f), and a communication unit (4g) for data exchange. The invention further relates to a computer-implemented method for evaluating the vibroacoustic signals.