Systems and methods for monitoring a surgical procedure with critical regions
Systems and methods for monitoring an operative site during a surgical procedure using a computer controlled surgical device. In general, the methods include the steps of processing one or more defined cutting paths having one or more cut regions; determining a correlation between the cut region and one or more critical regions to generate an alert, wherein the alert indicates a movable end-effector is within a defined proximity of the critical region; and requiring a user acknowledgment of the alert to allow processing of the cutting path to continue. Also described herein are systems and methods for minimizing user fatigue during a semi-computer controlled surgical procedure. In general, the methods includes the step of requiring a user generated acknowledgment in response to a computer generated alert, wherein the user acknowledgment is generated using a user controller, the user controller being minimally intrusive to the user experience.
1. A user controller device for a semi-computer controlled surgical procedure comprising:
a body configured as a pendant adapted to be hand held in one hand;
one or more use inputs configured to generate a user command, the one or more use inputs including at least a vigilance control button, requiring activation to acknowledge an alert sent to said pendant for active cutting to continue by a computer controlled surgical robot performing the semi-computer controlled surgical procedure; and
a cable configured to be electrically communicating the user command to said computer controlled surgical robot.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein release of the vigilance control button discontinues the cutting by said computer controlled surgical robot.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein activation of the vigilance control button continues the cutting by said computer controlled surgical robot from a non-critical region to a critical region of subject tissue.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said one or more use inputs comprises a navigation switch.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein said four-way navigation switch comprises a center-push for a “Menu” function in addition to left, right, up and down navigation.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein said one or more use inputs comprises a trigger.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein said trigger further comprises a “Select” function attached thereto.
8. The device of claim 6 wherein said trigger upon activation provides the user command to select valid digitizer points during a bone registration process of the surgical procedure.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein said one or more use inputs comprises an emergency stop function switch.
10. The device of claim 9 wherein said emergency stop function switch further comprises a snap-in replaceable contact block and “push-to-stop, twist-to-reset” operation.
11. The device of claim 9 wherein said emergency stop function switch sends the user command that physically interrupts power.
12. The device of claim 1 wherein said one or more use inputs comprises a snap-action roller-lever switch.
13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a printed circuit board which connects said one or more inputs to supply voltage, pull-up resistors, and individual wires in said cable.
14. The device of claim 1 wherein said cable is led from a rear side of said body of the pendant when in the one hand.
15. The device of claim 1 wherein said cable is strain relieved.
16. The device of claim 1 wherein said body is formed from molded top and bottom pendant shells.
17. The device of claim 1 wherein comprising a latching crimp housing connector retaining said cable to said body.
18. A method for performing a surgical procedure using a computer controlled surgical device using the device of claim 1 .
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the surgical procedure includes compromising of the tissue by at least one of an incision, cutting, milling, drilling, puncturing, or piercing.