Adaptable integrated energy control system for electrosurgical tools in robotic surgial systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021169592-A1
Application number	US-202017121948-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 15, 2020
Priority date	Mar 9, 2009
Publication date	Jun 10, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A user interface for a surgical system can include a display configured to output video images of a remote surgical site at which one or more electrosurgical instruments of the surgical system are deployed; and a graphical user interface configured to be output on the display with the video images. The graphical user interface may comprise a visual indication of a state of the one or more electrosurgical instruments that indicates a state of the one or more electrosurgical instruments being ready for activation to deliver energy or actively delivering energy.

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 . A user interface for a surgical system, the user interface comprising:
a display, wherein: the display is configured to display video images comprising an electrosurgical instrument of a surgical system at a remote surgical site; and the display is configured to display a graphical interface element simultaneously with the video images, the graphical interface element comprising a changing appearance to visually indicate that the electrosurgical instrument is in a state of activation to deliver energy or is actively delivering energy.

3 . The user interface according to claim 2 , wherein the graphical interface element comprises at least one icon having the changing appearance.

4 . The user interface according to claim 2 , wherein the changing appearance comprises at least one of a movement effect, a color change effect, or a flashing effect.

5 . The user interface according to claim 2 , wherein the changing appearance comprises a change from a static appearance to a dynamic appearance.

6 . The user interface according to claim 2 , wherein the display is configured to display the graphical interface element at a border location of the video images.

7 . The user interface according to claim 2 , wherein the graphical interface element is configured to change from a first appearance to a second appearance at a time when the electrosurgical instrument enters the state of actively delivering energy.

8 . The user interface according to claim 2 , wherein the graphical interface element comprises an identifier of the electrosurgical instrument.

9 . A user interface for a surgical system, the user interface comprising:
a display, wherein: the display is configured to display video images comprising an electrosurgical instrument of a surgical system at a remote surgical site; and the display is configured to display a graphical interface element simultaneously with the video images, wherein the graphical interface element is configured to change between:
a first appearance to visually indicate that the electrosurgical instrument is in a state of inactivation,
a second appearance to visually indicate that the electrosurgical instrument is in a state of activation to deliver energy, and
a third appearance to visually indicate that the electrosurgical instrument is in a state of actively delivering energy.

10 . The user interface according to claim 9 , wherein the first appearance includes a first icon, the second appearance includes a second icon, and the third appearance includes a third icon, the first, second and third icons differing from each other.

11 . The user interface according to claim 10 , wherein the first icon comprises a first color, and the second icon comprises a second color different from the first color.

12 . The user interface according to claim 10 , wherein the third icon comprises an outline or a halo around the second icon.

13 . The user interface according to claim 9 , wherein the second appearance and the third appearance respectively comprise at least one of a movement effect, a color change effect, a brightness change effect, or a flash effect.

14 . The user interface according to claim 9 , wherein the second appearance is a persistent visual indication, and the third appearance is a momentary visual indication.

15 . The user interface according to claim 9 , wherein the display is configured to display the graphical interface element at a location near a portion of the video images corresponding to the electrosurgical instrument.

16 . The user interface according to claim 9 , wherein the graphical interface element is configured to change from the second appearance to the third appearance at a time when the electrosurgical instrument enters the state of actively delivering energy.

17 . The user interface according to claim 9 , wherein the graphical interface element is configured to change from the third appearance to the second appearance at a time when the electrosurgical instrument exits the state of actively delivering energy.

18 . A system for controlling a user interface for a surgical system, the system comprising:
a display; and a graphics generator operably coupled to the display, wherein the graphics generator is configured to:
generate a graphical interface element,
cause the display to simultaneously output the graphical interface element with video images of an electrosurgical instrument at a remote surgical site, and
change an appearance of the graphical interface element to visually indicate that the electrosurgical instrument is in a state of activation to deliver energy or is actively delivering energy.

19 . The system according to claim 18 , wherein the graphics generator comprises a video card.

20 . The system according to claim 18 , wherein the graphics generator is configured to cause the display to simultaneously output the graphical interface element with the video images by a fusing of the graphic interface element with the video images to generate image frames.

21 . The system according to claim 20 , wherein the graphics generator is configured to send pixel information of the image frames to the display to cause the display to simultaneously output the graphical interface element with the video images.

22 . The system according to claim 18 , wherein:
the graphics generator is configured to generate a graphical interface element comprising at least one icon, and the graphics generator is configured to change an appearance of the at least one icon, the appearance being at least one of a color, a position, or an information content of the at least one icon.

23 . The system according to claim 18 , wherein the display is configured to display the graphical interface element at a periphery of a screen of the display.

Assignees

• Intuitive Surgical Operations

Inventors

• Robinson David W
• Nixon Thomas R
• Hanuschik Michael
• Goldberg Randal P
• Hemphill Jason
• Larkin David Q
• Millman Paul

Classifications

• A61B2034/301

  for introducing or steering flexible instruments inserted into the body, e.g. catheters or endoscopes · CPC title

• A61B2018/00988

  Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter · CPC title

• A61B2017/00477

  Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2017/00482

  with a code · CPC title

• A61B2017/00973

  pedal-operated · CPC title