Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Enhanced Surgical System with Automated Alignment and Real-time Feedback

Publication ID: 24-11857201_0001_PTD
Published: November 07, 2025
Category:Direct Improvements & Enhancements

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Enhanced Surgical System with Automated Alignment and Real-time Feedback,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857201_0001_PTD, Published November 07, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857201_0001_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,201.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

The enhanced surgical system integrates a navigation system and haptic device to provide real-time tactile feedback, enabling precise alignment of surgical tools with a patient's anatomy and minimizing the risk of human error.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent disclosed a surgical system with automated alignment, but it lacked real-time feedback and predictive capabilities to adjust for potential alignment errors. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by incorporating a navigation system with machine learning algorithms and a haptic device, ensuring accurate and safe surgical procedures.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The enhanced surgical system consists of a navigation system that tracks a patient's anatomy and surgical tools in real-time, and a haptic device that provides tactile feedback to the surgeon. The navigation system includes a machine learning algorithm to predict and adjust for potential alignment errors, ensuring precise alignment of surgical tools. The system also features a safety feature that temporarily halts the surgical procedure if the navigation system detects a potential alignment error. The method for performing a surgical procedure using the enhanced system involves tracking the patient's anatomy and surgical tools, providing real-time tactile feedback, and automatically adjusting the alignment of surgical tools based on the tracked data.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce the novel combination of a navigation system with machine learning algorithms and a haptic device, which provides real-time tactile feedback and predictive capabilities to adjust for potential alignment errors. This integration enables precise alignment of surgical tools and minimizes the risk of human error, representing a significant improvement over the original patent.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the enhanced surgical system could include the use of different types of sensors or tracking systems, or the integration of additional features such as augmented reality visualization. Variations of the system could be designed for specific surgical procedures or specialties, such as orthopedic or neurosurgery.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The enhanced surgical system has significant commercial potential in the medical device industry, particularly in the areas of orthopedic, neurosurgery, and robotic-assisted surgery. The system's ability to provide real-time tactile feedback and predictive capabilities could improve surgical outcomes, reduce complications, and enhance patient safety, making it an attractive solution for hospitals and surgical centers.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61B17/15
A A61 A61B17/142
A A61 A61B17/1615
A A61 A61B17/1703
A A61 A61B34/20
A A61 A61B34/30
A A61 A61B34/76
A A61 A61B17/157
A A61 A61B34/25
A A61 A61B90/03
A A61 A61B2017/00128
A A61 A61B2034/105
A A61 A61B2034/2055

Field of Art

Surgical robotics and haptic control systems, specifically involving computer-assisted surgical navigation, tool alignment, and tactile feedback technologies. Requires expertise in medical device engineering, robotic control systems, sensor integration, and machine learning applications in surgical contexts.

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or robotics specialist with advanced degrees in mechanical/electrical engineering, specialized training in surgical technology, understanding of machine learning algorithms, sensor integration, and real-time tracking systems for medical applications.

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that integrating machine learning-based navigation with existing haptic surgical systems represents a predictable technological evolution. The combination of real-time tracking, tactile feedback, and automated alignment mechanisms follows established design principles in surgical robotics. The disclosed variations systematically extend the source patent's core concepts using well-understood engineering techniques.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Robotic device with tool alignment capabilities
PTD Variation
Adding machine learning algorithm to predict and adjust alignment errors
Obviousness Reasoning
Applying machine learning to improve surgical tool precision is a known technique, representing an incremental technological improvement with predictable results in robotic surgical systems
Source Patent Element
Sensor for detecting user presence
PTD Variation
Enhanced sensor system for real-time patient anatomy tracking
Obviousness Reasoning
Expanding sensor capabilities to provide more comprehensive tracking is an obvious design optimization using standard sensor integration techniques
Source Patent Element
Haptic feedback mechanism
PTD Variation
Synchronizing haptic feedback with navigation system for real-time tactile information
Obviousness Reasoning
Integrating feedback systems is a standard engineering approach to improve human-machine interaction, representing a logical and predictable system enhancement
Source Patent Element
Surgical tool control system
PTD Variation
Adding safety feature to halt procedure upon detecting potential alignment errors
Obviousness Reasoning
Implementing automated safety mechanisms is a well-established practice in medical device design, using known risk mitigation strategies
Source Patent Element
Robotic surgical system with controller
PTD Variation
Incorporating computer-readable storage medium with procedure-specific optimization instructions
Obviousness Reasoning
Customizing software instructions for specific surgical procedures is a routine engineering approach with predictable technological implementation
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857201 and the disclosed technological variations, a person of ordinary skill in the art would find the claimed surgical system enhancements obvious and non-patentable. The systematic integration of machine learning, enhanced navigation, and synchronized haptic feedback represents a predictable technological progression within the established boundaries of surgical robotic system design.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,201
TitleSurgical system with automated alignment
Assignee(s)MAKO Surgical Corp.