IP Library Granted Patent US 9,304,018
Granted Patent B2
US 9,304,018 · App. 14/531,416 · Granted Apr 5, 2016

Body shape, position, and posture recognition suit with multi-core optical shape sensing fiber

Inventors: Matthew A. Davis (Christiansburg, VA); Eugene Malinowski (Christiansburg, VA); Jason L. Chevalier (Christiansburg, VA); Alaina M. McGregor (Blacksburg, VA); Matthew Reaves (Baltimore, MD)
Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
G01D5/35367A61B5/1079A61B5/1116A61B5/6804G01D5/3538A61B2562/0266Y10T29/49
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,304,018
App. No.
14/531,416
Granted
Apr 5, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A measurement apparatus includes a body suit for a body that includes an appendage having a pivotable joint, the body suit comprising a sleeve to cover the appendage, wherein a first portion of the sleeve is configured to cover the pivotable joint. One or more multi-core optical fiber sensors is/are within or on the sleeve in a routing pattern that is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the sleeve except within the first portion and that is at least partially transverse to the longitudinal axis within the first portion. An optical shape sensing system coupled to the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors sends light into the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors and determines a position of each of the multiple appendages based on reflected optical signal measurements detected from one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors.

Claims (28)

1. Measurement apparatus comprising:

a body suit for a body that includes an appendage having a pivotable joint, the body suit comprising a sleeve to cover the appendage, wherein a first portion of the sleeve is configured to cover the pivotable joint,

one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors within or on the sleeve in a routing pattern that is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the sleeve except within the first portion where the routing pattern within the first portion is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve; and

an optical shape sensing system coupled to the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors and configured to send light into the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors and determine a position of each of the multiple appendages based on reflected optical signal measurements detected from one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors.

2. The measurement apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the optical shape sensing system is configured to determine a shape of the body based on reflected optical signals detected from one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors.

3. The measurement apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the optical shape sensing system is configured to determine a posture of the body based on reflected optical signals detected from one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors.

4. The measurement apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the optical shape sensing system is an optical frequency-domain reflectometry (OFDR) based system.

5. The measurement apparatus in claim 1 , further comprising a launch unit coupled to a first end of each of the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors, wherein an orientation of the launch unit defines a coordinate frame for the optical shape sensing system measurements.

6. The measurement apparatus in claim 5 , wherein the launch unit includes or is coupled to an inertial measurement unit (IMU).

7. The measurement apparatus in claim 5 , wherein the launch unit includes or is coupled to a global positioning system (GPS).

8. The measurement apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors is configured in or on the body suit to traverse across the one or more movable joints from a first side of the one or more movable joints to a second opposing side of the one or more movable joints.

9. The measurement apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors is configured in or on the body suit to traverse across the one or more movable joints with a predetermined, minimum bend radius associated with the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors.

10. The measurement apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the optical shape sensing system is configured to calibrate measurements detected from the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors as configured in or on the body suit.

11. Measurement apparatus comprising:

a body suit for a body that includes an appendage having a pivotable joint, the body suit comprising a sleeve to cover the appendage, wherein a first portion of the sleeve is configured to cover the pivotable joint;

one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors within or on the sleeve in a routing pattern that is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the sleeve except within the first portion and that is at least partially transverse to the longitudinal axis within the first portion;

a connection terminal configured to connect the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors to an optical shape sensing system for sending light into the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors and determining a position of each of the multiple appendages based on reflected optical signal measurements detected from the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors; and

a launch unit coupled to a first end of each of the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors, wherein an orientation of the launch unit defines a coordinate frame for the optical shape sensing system measurements.

12. The measurement apparatus in claim 11 , wherein the launch unit includes or is coupled to an inertial measurement unit (IMU).

13. The measurement apparatus in claim 11 , wherein the launch unit includes or is coupled to a global positioning system (GPS).

14. The measurement apparatus in claim 11 , wherein the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors is configured in or on the body suit to traverse across the one or more movable joints from a first side of the one or more movable joints to a second opposing side of the one or more movable joints.

15. The measurement apparatus in claim 11 , wherein the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors is configured in or on the body suit to traverse across the one or more movable joints from a first side of the one or more movable joints to a second opposing side of the one or more movable joints.

16. The measurement apparatus in claim 11 , wherein the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors is configured in or on the body suit to traverse across the one or more movable joints with a predetermined, minimum bend radius associated with the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors.

17. The measurement apparatus in claim 11 , wherein the body is a human body, an animal body, or a robotic body.

18. A method for making a body suit for a body that includes an appendage having a pivotable joint, the body suit comprising a sleeve to cover the appendage, wherein a first portion of the sleeve is configured to cover the pivotable joint, the method comprising:

routing one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors within or on the sleeve in a routing pattern that is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the sleeve except within the first portion and that is at least partially transverse to the longitudinal axis within the first portion,

providing a connection terminal that is configured to connect the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors to an optical shape sensing system for injecting light into the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors and determining a position of one or more of the multiple appendages based on reflected optical signal measurements detected from one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors, and

coupling a launch unit to a first end of each of the one or more multi-core optical fiber sensors, wherein an orientation of the launch unit defines a coordinate frame for the optical shape sensing system measurements.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Sep 2, 2020
From: LUNA INNOVATIONS INC.
To: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
Reel/Frame 053680/0564 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2015
From: DAVIS, MATTHEW A.; MALINOWSKI, EUGENE; CHEVALIER, JASON L.; MCGREGOR, ALAINA M.; REAVES, MATTHEW
To: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 035392/0532 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61899966 · Nov 5, 2013
Related Publication 20150124266A1 · May 7, 2015