Alcon, Inc.

Patrick Terry

Ashok Burton Tripathi

Thomas Paul Riederer

George Charles Polchin

Maximiliano Ramirez Luna

Michael A Weissman

Devin Reed

David Roe

A robotic imaging system includes a camera configured to obtain one or more images of a target site. A robotic arm is operatively connected to the camera, the robotic arm being adapted to selectively move the camera in a movement sequence. The robotic imaging system includes a sensor configured to detect and transmit sensor data related to a respective position and/or a respective speed of the camera. A controller is configured to receive the sensor data, the controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The controller is adapted to selectively execute a collision avoidance mode, which includes determining a trajectory scaling factor for the camera. The trajectory scaling factor is applied to modulate the respective speed when the camera and/or the robotic arm are in a predefined buffer zone.

Robotic imaging system with velocity-based collision avoidance mode

A robotic imaging system includes a camera configured to obtain one or more images of a target site. A robotic arm is operatively connected to the camera, the robotic arm being adapted to selectively move the camera in a movement sequence. A force-based sensor is configured to detect and transmit sensor data related to at least one of force and/or torque imparted by a user for moving the camera. The system includes a controller configured to receive the sensor data. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The controller is adapted to selectively execute a collision avoidance mode, including applying a respective correction force to modify the movement sequence when the camera and/or the robotic arm enter a predefined buffer zone.

Robotic imaging system with force-based collision avoidance mode

A system for guiding an ophthalmic procedure is disclosed. The system includes a housing assembly with a head unit configured to be at least partially directed towards a target site in an eye. An optical coherence tomography (OCT) module and stereoscopic visualization camera are at least partially located in the head unit and configured to obtain a first set and a second set of volumetric data, respectively. A controller is configured to register the first set and second set of volumetric data to create a third set of registered volumetric data. The third set and second set of registered volumetric data are rendered, via a volumetric render module, to a first and second region. The first region and the second region are overlaid to obtain a shared composite view of the target site. The controller is configured to extract structural features and/or enable visualization of the target site.

Surgical applications with integrated visualization camera and optical coherence tomography

A stereoscopic imaging platform includes a stereoscopic camera configured to record left and right images of a target site. A robotic arm is operatively connected to the stereoscopic camera, the robotic arm being adapted to selectively move the stereoscopic camera relative to the target. The stereoscopic camera includes a lens assembly having at least one lens and defining a working distance. The lens assembly has at least one focus motor adapted to move the at least one lens to selectively vary the working distance. A controller is adapted to selectively execute one or more automatic focusing modes for the stereoscopic camera. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The automatic focusing modes include a disparity mode and/or a sharpness control mode which are adapted to at least partially rely on disparity feedback to change the working distance in order to achieve focus.

Stereoscopic imaging platform with disparity and sharpness control automatic focusing mode

A stereoscopic imaging platform includes a stereoscopic camera configured to record left and right images of a target site. A robotic arm is operatively connected to the stereoscopic camera, the robotic arm being adapted to selectively move the stereoscopic camera relative to the target. The stereoscopic camera includes a lens assembly having at least one lens and defining a working distance. The lens assembly has at least one focus motor adapted to move the at least one lens to selectively vary the working distance. A controller is adapted to selectively execute one or more automatic focusing modes for the stereoscopic camera. The automatic focusing modes include a continuous autofocus mode adapted to maintain a focus of the at least one stereoscopic image while the robotic arm is moving the stereoscopic camera and the target site is moving along at least an axial direction.

Stereoscopic imaging platform with continuous autofocusing mode

A robotic imaging system includes a camera configured to one or more images of a target site. The camera may be a stereoscopic camera configured to record a left image and a right image for producing at least one stereoscopic image of the target site. A robotic arm is operatively connected to the camera, the robotic arm being adapted to selectively move the camera relative to the target site. A sensor is configured to detect forces and/or torque imparted by a user for moving the stereoscopic camera and transmit sensor data. A controller is configured to receive the sensor data, the controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The controller is adapted to selectively execute an assisted drive mode, which includes determining a movement sequence for the robotic arm based in part on the sensor data and a damping function.

Assisted drive mode with damping function for robotic imaging system

A method of calibrating a robotic imaging apparatus includes providing the robotic imaging apparatus, calibrating a stereoscopic camera portion of the apparatus to robot space, and registering the robot space to a patient space. An embodiment of the apparatus includes a base section defining the robot space, a robotic arm including a first end connected to the base section, a second end including a coupling interface, and a plurality of joints and links connecting the first end to the second end, each joint including a motor configured to rotate the joint around an axis and a joint sensor configured to transmit a position of the respective joint, a stereoscopic camera connected at the coupling interface, and a sensor positioned at the coupling interface and configured to detect force imparted on the stereoscopic camera by an operator and to transmit output data indicative of the detected force.

Stereoscopic visualization camera and integrated robotics platform

A method, instructions for which are executed from a computer-readable medium, calibrates a robotic camera system having a digital camera connected to an end-effector of a serial robot. The end-effector and camera move within a robot motion coordinate frame ('robot frame'). The method includes acquiring, using the camera, a reference image of a target object on an image plane having an optical coordinate frame, and receiving input signals, including a depth measurement and joint position signals. Separate roll and pitch offsets are determined of a target point within the reference image with respect to the robot frame while moving the robot. Offsets are also determined with respect to x, y, and z axes of the robot frame while moving the robot through another motion sequence. The offsets are stored in a transformation matrix, which is used to control the robot during subsequent operation of the camera system.

Optical axis calibration of robotic camera system

System and method for imaging a target site with a housing assembly having a head unit configured to be at least partially directed towards the target site. An optical coherence tomography (OCT) module and stereoscopic visualization camera are at least partially located in the head unit and configured to obtain a first set and a second of volumetric data of the target site, respectively. A controller is configured to register the first set of volumetric data with the second set of volumetric data to create a third set of registered volumetric data. The third set of registered volumetric data and second set of volumetric data are rendered, via a volumetric render module, to a first and second region. The first region and the second region are overlaid to obtain a composite shared view of the target.

System and method for integrated visualization camera and optical coherence tomography

A stereoscopic imaging platform includes a stereoscopic camera configured to record left and right images of a target site. A robotic arm is operatively connected to the stereoscopic camera, the robotic arm being adapted to selectively move the stereoscopic camera relative to the target. The stereoscopic camera includes a lens assembly having at least one lens and defining a working distance. The lens assembly has at least one focus motor adapted to move the at least one lens to selectively vary the working distance. A controller is adapted to selectively execute one or more automatic focusing modes for the stereoscopic camera. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The automatic focusing modes include a target locking mode. The target locking mode is adapted to maintain a focus of the at least one stereoscopic image while the robotic arm is moving the stereoscopic camera.

Stereoscopic imaging platform with target locking automatic focusing mode

A robotic imaging apparatus is disclosed. A robotic imaging apparatus includes a robotic arm, a stereoscopic camera, and a sensor positioned between the robotic arm and the stereoscopic camera. The sensor transmits output data that is indicative of translational and/or rotational force imparted on the stereoscopic camera by an operator. The robotic imaging apparatus also includes a processor that is configured to determine a movement sequence for the robotic arm based on a current position of the robotic arm and the output data from the sensor and to cause at least one of the joints of the robotic arm to rotate based on the determined movement sequence via one or more motor control signals provided to the at least one joint. The rotation of the at least one joint provides power-assisted movement of the robotic arm based on the detected translational and/or rotational forces imparted by the operator.

A robotic imaging apparatus is disclosed. A robotic imaging apparatus includes a robotic arm, a stereoscopic camera, and a sensor positioned between the robotic arm and the stereoscopic camera. The sensor transmits output data that is indicative of translational and rotational force imparted on the stereoscopic camera by an operator. The robotic imaging apparatus also includes a processor that is configured to determine a movement sequence for the robotic arm based on a current position of the robotic arm and the output data from the sensor and to cause at least one of the joints of the robotic arm to rotate based on the determined movement sequence via one or more motor control signals provided to the at least one joint. The rotation of the at least one joint provides power-assisted movement of the robotic arm based on the detected translational and rotational forces imparted by the operator.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Patrick Terry