Intelligent surgical tool control system for laparoscopic surgeries
Inventors
Nir, Tal • ATAROT, Gal • FRIMER, Motti
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11638615-B2
Publication Date
2023-05-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
An intelligent surgical tool control system, comprising a tool management system; an indicating means to indicate at least one surgical event; a communicable database for storing, for each item of interest, its identity, its present 3D position and at least one previous 3D position; and at least one processor to identify, from a surgical event, an output surgical procedure. The tool management system can comprise a maneuvering mechanism to maneuver a surgical tool in at least two dimensions; and a controller to control at least one of activation and deactivation of a surgical tool and articulation of a surgical tool. The indicating means can indicate a surgical event selected from movement of a moving element and presence of an item of interest, where movement is determinable if the current 3D position of the moving element is substantially different from a previous 3D position of the same.
Core Innovation
The described invention provides an intelligent surgical tool control system for laparoscopic surgery that includes an endoscope and at least one tool management system. The tool management system includes at least one maneuvering mechanism configured to robotically maneuver the endoscope in at least two dimensions, and the maneuvering mechanism is operable in physical inward zoom to maneuver the camera towards a region of interest to enlarge a view of the region of interest captured by the camera.
The system further includes at least one controller configured to control activation of a virtual zoom function of the endoscope. During operation of the maneuvering mechanism in physical inward zoom, at least one indicating element indicates at least one surgical event, the surgical event being selected from movement of the endoscope approaching travel limits of the maneuvering mechanism and movement of the endoscope into restricted space adjacent to an object.
A processor comprising a computer program is used in communication with the controller and the tool management system. The computer program, when executed, is configured to, in response to detection of the at least one surgical event during robotic movement of the endoscope in physical inward zoom towards a region of interest, activate the virtual zoom function of the endoscope.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent claims. Both independent claims define an intelligent endoscope control arrangement that uses physical inward zoom and event-based activation of a virtual zoom function.
Event-based virtual zoom activation during physical inward zoom
The system includes an endoscope and a tool management system with a maneuvering mechanism operable in physical inward zoom to maneuver the camera toward a region of interest, and an indicating element that indicates a surgical event selected from movement approaching travel limits and movement into restricted space adjacent to an object; a processor executes a computer program that activates a virtual zoom function of the endoscope in response to detection of the surgical event during robotic movement in physical inward zoom toward the region of interest.
Detecting surgical events during inward zoom to activate virtual zoom
The method positions a distal end of the endoscope in a body cavity; robotically advances the distal end of the endoscope while capturing images and displaying captured images in real time; performs a physical inward zoom to further advance the camera towards a region of interest to enlarge a view; detects a surgical event selected from movement approaching travel limits and movement into restricted space adjacent to an object during the physical inward zoom; and activates a virtual zoom function of the endoscope in response to detection of the surgical event.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is event-driven activation of a virtual zoom function for an endoscope during physical inward zoom, where the surgical event is selected from approaching maneuvering travel limits and entering restricted space adjacent to an object. The method and system frameworks both couple event detection with zoom activation in the context of robotically moving the endoscope toward a region of interest.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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