Voice-Controlled Surgical System with Position Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive surgical instruments face challenges in flexibility, dexterity, and intuitive control due to the limitations of traditional endoscopic systems, which hinder the precision and efficiency of surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system that utilizes voice commands to control surgical instruments, incorporating voice sensors and a processor for authentication and command verification, allowing for seamless operation through voice recognition and position indication, enhancing the surgeon's ability to perform tasks with greater precision and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional minimally invasive surgical instruments are used, then reduced post-operative recovery time and minimal scarring are achieved, but flexibility, dexterity, and intuitive control are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical control with voice-activated control mechanisms. The surgical system uses voice sensors to detect and process commands, substituting the traditional manual manipulation of instruments with acoustic signal-based control. This allows the surgeon to control instrument movements through voice commands rather than direct physical manipulation, thereby improving intuitive control while maintaining the benefits of minimally invasive surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces voice recognition technology as an intermediary between the surgeon and the surgical instruments. The voice sensor system acts as a mediator that translates verbal commands into control signals for the instruments. This intermediary layer enables more intuitive control by allowing the surgeon to communicate intentions through speech rather than physically manipulating the instruments through small incisions.
2Ease of operation
If endoscopic instruments with added length are used, then access through small incisions is enabled, but the ability to feel forces exerted by tissues and organs is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct tactile feedback mechanisms with voice-based control. Instead of relying on the surgeon's physical sensation of tissue forces transmitted through the instrument shaft, the system uses voice commands to control instrument movements. This substitution eliminates the need for tactile feedback through the long instrument shaft, allowing access through small incisions while compensating for the loss of force perception through acoustic control.
3Ease of operation
If telesurgery systems with remote control are used, then surgical dexterity is increased, but coordination between viewed end effector movement and actual movement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical control systems with voice-activated control. The traditional telesurgery system requires coordinated manipulation of master control devices while viewing the end effector, creating a complex coordination challenge. The voice control system eliminates this coordination requirement by directly translating verbal commands into instrument actions, thereby maintaining surgical dexterity while simplifying the coordination between viewing and controlling.
4Ease of operation
If voice control is added to surgical instruments, then intuitive control is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates voice control capabilities into the existing surgical system architecture, making the system multi-functional. The voice sensors and processing components are incorporated into the surgical instrument or control system, allowing the same hardware to perform both traditional mechanical control and voice-activated control functions. This integration approach improves intuitive control while managing complexity by utilizing the existing system framework rather than adding entirely separate control 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 enables more intuitive and precise control of surgical instruments, improving the dexterity and sensitivity of minimally invasive surgery by allowing voice-controlled operations, thereby addressing the limitations of traditional endoscopic systems.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of voice sensors are located in a surgical environment and configured to detect sound and generate a first plurality of signals
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical system includes a plurality of voice sensors located in a surgical environment and configured to detect sound and generate a first plurality of signals. The surgical system also includes a position indicator, in proximity to a designated user, configured to indicate a first position of the designated user and generate a second signal representative of the first position. The surgical system further includes a processor configured to receive the first plurality of signals and the second signal and determine, based on the first plurality of signals, a second position. The processor is also configured to compare the detected sound with registered voice command of the designated user stored in a memory to verify the designated user's credentials, and send a command signal to a surgical instrument to carry out an operation related to the voice command based on at least one of the verification of the designated user's credentials, the first position and the second position.