Multi-force sensing surgical instrument and method of use for robotic surgical systems

1. A multi-force sensing instrument, comprising:

a tool comprising a tool shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;

a strain sensor arranged at a first position along said tool shaft;

at least one of a second strain sensor or a torque-force sensor arranged at a second position along said tool shaft, said second position being more towards said proximal end of said tool shaft than said first position; and

a signal processor configured to communicate with said strain sensor and said at least one of said second strain sensor or said torque-force sensor to receive detection signals therefrom,

wherein said signal processor is configured to process said signals to determine a magnitude and position of a lateral component of a force applied to said tool shaft when said position of said applied force is between said first and second positions, and

wherein said lateral component of said force is a component of said force that lies in a plane that is orthogonal to said tool shaft at said position at which said force is applied.

2. A multi-force sensing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein said signal processor is further configured to process said signals to determine a magnitude and position of a distal force applied to said tool shaft when said position of said distal force is beyond said first position towards said distal end of said tool shaft.

3. A multi-force sensing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said second strain sensor or said torque-force sensor is a pair of strain sensors displaced with respect to each other along a distal to proximal axial direction along said tool shaft.

4. A multi-force sensing instrument according to claim 3 , wherein the first-mentioned strain sensor and said pair of strain sensors comprise an optical fiber comprising first, second and third Fiber Bragg Gratings written therein corresponding respectively to said first-mentioned strain sensor and said pair of strain sensors, said optical fiber extending substantially parallel to said tool shaft.

5. A multi-force sensing instrument according to claim 3 , wherein the first-mentioned strain sensor and said pair of strain sensors comprise a plurality of optical fibers each comprising first, second and third Fiber Bragg Gratings written therein corresponding respectively to said first-mentioned strain sensor and said pair of strain sensors, said plurality of optical fibers extending substantially parallel to said tool shaft and substantially parallel to each other.

6. A multi-force sensing instrument according to claim 5 , wherein said plurality of optical fibers are arranged substantially equally spaced around a circumference of said tool shaft.

7. A multi-force sensing instrument according to claim 6 , wherein said plurality of optical fibers are three optical fibers oriented about 120° apart around a circumference of said tool shaft.

8. A multi-force sensing instrument according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of said three optical fibers provides temperature compensation information to said signal processor to correct for temperature changes.

9. A multi-force sensing instrument according to claim 5 , wherein said first, second and third Fiber Bragg Gratings written in said optical fiber each have a unique central reflection wavelength under relaxed, equal temperature conditions to allow wavelength division multiplexing within said optical fiber.

10. A multi-force sensing instrument according to claim 9 , further comprising:

an optical transmitter optically coupled to said optical fiber; and

an optical receiver optically coupled to said optical fiber,

wherein said optical receiver is configured to detect wavelengths of reflected light from each of said first, second and third Fiber Bragg Gratings.

11. A multi-force sensing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein said tool is a surgical tool.

12. A multi-force sensing instrument according to claim 11 , wherein said surgical tool is a micro-surgery surgical tool.

13. A multi-force sensing instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a second pair of strain sensors arranged at a third position along said tool shaft, said third position being more towards said proximal end of said tool shaft than said second position,

wherein said second pair of strain sensors are displaced with respect to each other along a distal to proximal axial direction along said tool shaft.

14. A multi-force sensing instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pairs of strain sensors arranged at corresponding pluralities of positions along said tool shaft successively more towards said proximal end of said tool shaft than said second position,

wherein each of said plurality of pairs of strain sensors are displaced with respect to each other along a distal to proximal axial direction along said tool shaft.

15. A robotic system, comprising:

a robot having a tool connector;

a multi-force sensing instrument attached to said tool connector of said robot; and

a feedback system configured to communicate with said multi-force sensing instrument to provide at least one of feedback control of said robot or feedback information to a user of said robotic system,

wherein said multi-force sensing instrument comprises:

a tool comprising a tool shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;

a strain sensor arranged at a first position along said tool shaft;

at least one of a second strain sensor or a torque-force sensor arranged at a second position along said tool shaft, said second position being more towards said proximal end of said tool shaft than said first position; and

a signal processor configured to communicate with said strain sensor and said at least one of said second strain sensor or said torque-force sensor to receive detection signals therefrom,

wherein said signal processor is configured to process said signals to determine a magnitude and position of a lateral component of a force applied to said tool shaft when said position of said applied force is between said first and second positions, and

wherein said lateral component of said force is a component of said force that lies in a plane that is orthogonal to said tool shaft at said position at which said force is applied.

16. A robotic system according to claim 15 , wherein said robot is a cooperative-control robot that performs automated functions in response to a user's actions while using said tool to at least one of modify, assist or prevent manual operations of said user's actions.

17. A robotic system according to claim 15 , wherein said robot is a tele-operated robot.

18. A method of controlling a robotic system, comprising:

performing an action with a multi-force sensing instrument, said multi-force sensing instrument, comprising:

a tool comprising a tool shaft having a distal end and a proximal end,

a strain sensor arranged at a first position along said tool shaft,

at least one of a second strain sensor or a torque-force sensor arranged at a second position along said tool shaft, said second position being more towards said proximal end of said tool shaft than said first position, and

a signal processor configured to communicate with said strain sensor and said at least one of said second strain sensor or said torque-force sensor to receive detection signals therefrom,

wherein said signal processor is configured to process said signals to determine a magnitude and position of a lateral component of a force applied to said tool shaft when said position of said applied force is between said first and second positions, and

wherein said lateral component of said force is a component of said force that lies in a plane that is orthogonal to said tool shaft at said position at which said force is applied; and

providing control signals to a robot based on said magnitude and position of said lateral component of said force determined from said multi-force sensing instrument such that said robot performs an automatic action in response thereto.