Extended-Reality Digital Twin for Robotic Surgery Workflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for preventing surgical errors and adverse events during robotic surgery are insufficient, leading to high rates of complications despite traditional patient safety initiatives.
Innovation Solution
The use of extended-reality apparatuses and machine learning systems in robotic surgical systems to generate a 3D digital twin of a patient's anatomy, allowing for virtual simulation of surgical procedures and real-time adjustment of surgical workflows based on historical data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional communication-based methods are used to prevent surgical errors, then implementation is simple and low-cost, but error prevention effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy (digital twin) of the patient's anatomy using medical imaging data. This virtual model allows surgeons to simulate and practice surgical procedures before the actual operation, enabling error prevention without requiring complex real-time intervention systems during surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary surgical simulation and planning in the virtual environment before the actual surgery. Surgeons can identify potential errors, test different approaches, and optimize the surgical workflow in advance, thereby preventing errors during the real procedure without adding complexity to the actual surgical equipment.
2Reliability
If virtual simulation and 3D digital twin technology are implemented, then surgical error prevention improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extended-reality apparatus serves multiple functions: it displays the 3D digital twin, overlays virtual surgical instruments, provides real-time navigation guidance, and enables collaborative viewing among surgical team members. By consolidating these functions into a single wearable device, the system reduces the need for multiple separate complex equipment pieces in the operating room.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical surgical navigation systems (which require complex external trackers, cameras, and physical reference frames) with a software-based virtual reality system. The surgical guidance is achieved through computational rendering and optical display rather than mechanical measurement systems, thereby reducing physical complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If real-time surgical simulation and workflow adjustment are implemented, then surgical precision improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs computationally intensive tasks such as 3D model generation, surgical pathway simulation, and complication scenario analysis during the preoperative planning phase. This allows complex processing to occur before surgery without impacting operative time, as the virtual model and surgical plan are prepared in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
Once the surgical procedure begins, the extended-reality system provides continuous real-time guidance and workflow adjustment without requiring interruption of the surgical flow. The virtual overlay updates dynamically as the surgeon progresses, maintaining precision guidance while allowing uninterrupted surgical execution.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for performing robotic surgery in an extended-reality (XR) surgical simulation environment are disclosed. The disclosed systems provide a surgical metaverse in which a surgical robot network receives medical images of a patient. A digital twin is generated from the medical images that enables generation of a virtual surgical simulation environment for performing a surgical procedure. Necessary workflow objects for the procedure are selected and surgical actions are performed on the digital twin. Data of the workflow objects and actions in relation to the digital twin are stored. The surgical robot network generates a surgical workflow based on the workflow objects and actions and compares the surgical workflow to historical workflows to allow adjustment of the workflow in the surgical simulation virtual environment. The workflow, workflow objects, and actions in relation to the digital twin are sent to the surgical robot.