Titan Medical has been granted a patent for a method of operating a robotic control system in robotic surgery. The method involves using an input device with a handle to control the position and orientation of a surgical tool’s end effector. Haptic feedback is provided to impede translational movement of the handle while allowing rotational movement, based on the alignment difference between the handle and the end effector. The patent also covers instructions stored in a computer readable medium that enable control of the handle based on the alignment difference. GlobalData’s report on Titan Medical gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Titan Medical, surgical robots was a key innovation area identified from patents. Titan Medical's grant share as of September 2023 was 53%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Robotic control system for surgical tool movement
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11744658B2) describes a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a robotic surgery control system, enable control of a handle to control the movement of an end effector of a surgical tool. The patent outlines a method for determining the alignment difference between the handle and the end effector and sets an alignment threshold. If the alignment difference does not meet the threshold, control of movement in a second direction is disabled. However, if the alignment difference satisfies the threshold, control of movement in the second direction is enabled.
The patent also describes a robotic surgery control system that includes an input, such as a handle coupled to a control arm, which can be moved in a first direction to control the corresponding movement of the end effector. The system's processor determines the alignment difference between the input and the end effector. If the alignment difference does not meet the alignment threshold, control of movement in the first direction is disabled. Conversely, if the alignment difference satisfies the threshold, control of movement in the first direction is enabled.
The system allows for movement of the input in a second direction, different from the first direction, to control the corresponding movement of the end effector in the second direction. The processor enables control of movement of the end effector based on the movement of the input. The patent also mentions that the processor can provide an indication when control of movement in the first direction is disabled.
Additionally, the patent discusses determining the alignment difference based on the distance the end effector would need to move to align with the current orientation of the input. The processor can also determine a target orientation of the end effector based on the current orientation of the input and calculate the alignment difference based on the difference between the current orientation of the input and the target orientation of the end effector.
Overall, this patent presents a method and system for controlling the movement of a surgical tool's end effector based on the alignment between a handle and the end effector. By setting an alignment threshold, the system ensures precise control and alignment during robotic surgery procedures.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
