Specialized Ultrasonic Robotic Surgical Navigation Systems for Niche Environments

Publication ID: 24-11857273_0004_PTD
Published: November 07, 2025
Category:Specialized Variations & Niche Solutions

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Specialized Ultrasonic Robotic Surgical Navigation Systems for Niche Environments,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857273_0004_PTD, Published November 07, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857273_0004_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. 11,857,273.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

The present inventive concept relates to specialized ultrasonic robotic surgical navigation systems designed for specific, narrow market applications or unique operational environments, such as disaster relief, high-security needs, extreme weather conditions, and remote areas.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent disclosed a general ultrasonic robotic surgical navigation system for robot-assisted surgeries. However, the system lacked adaptability for specific, high-stakes environments. The present inventive concept addresses this limitation by introducing specialized variations and niche solutions, enabling the system to operate effectively in diverse, challenging scenarios.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The specialized ultrasonic robotic surgical navigation systems comprise a robot having a robot base, a robot arm coupled to the robot base, and an end-effector coupled to the robot arm. The end-effector is configured to guide movement of a surgical instrument and is adapted for specific operational environments. For example, in disaster relief operations, the end-effector is designed to navigate debris-filled environments. In high-security needs, the system encrypts ultrasound imaging data for secure transmission. In extreme weather conditions, the end-effector features a waterproof and dustproof design. In remote areas, the system is portable and enables real-time guidance from remote experts. The ultrasound transducer coupled to the end-effector tracks pose of the end-effector relative to an anatomical structure in real-time, providing precise navigation and control.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce novel, non-obvious adaptations of the original patent's concepts to specific, high-stakes environments. The inventive step lies in the tailored design of the end-effector and the system's components to address the unique challenges of each niche application.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments may include variations in the end-effector's design, such as adjustable or modular components, to further enhance adaptability. Additional variations may incorporate advanced sensing technologies or artificial intelligence to improve system performance and autonomy.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The specialized ultrasonic robotic surgical navigation systems have significant commercial potential in various industries, including healthcare, disaster relief, and national security. The market for these systems is expected to grow as the need for adaptable, high-performance surgical navigation solutions increases in diverse operational environments.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61B34/20
A A61 A61B34/10
A A61 A61B34/30
A A61 A61B90/06
A A61 A61B2034/107
A A61 A61B2034/2048
A A61 A61B2034/2057
A A61 A61B2034/2063
A A61 A61B2034/2065
A A61 A61B2090/062
A A61 A61B2090/3925

Field of Art

Robotic surgical systems with ultrasonic navigation and instrument tracking, requiring advanced mechanical engineering, medical device design, and robotics expertise with specialized knowledge in surgical navigation technologies

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or robotics specialist with advanced degrees, experience in surgical robotic systems, understanding of ultrasonic imaging, mechanical design principles, and expertise in adapting medical technologies to specialized environments

Obviousness Rationale

A person having ordinary skill would recognize that the source patent's fundamental ultrasonic robotic surgical navigation system provides a flexible technological framework that can be readily adapted to specialized operational contexts. The core technological principles of end-effector design, ultrasound tracking, and surgical instrument guidance remain consistent across the disclosed variations. The modifications represent predictable engineering solutions to address specific environmental constraints using known techniques in robotics and medical device design.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
End-effector with ultrasound transducer for tracking surgical instrument position
PTD Variation
Adapting end-effector design for debris-filled disaster relief environments with enhanced structural resilience
Obviousness Reasoning
A PHOSITA would recognize that modifying mechanical robustness is a standard design approach when translating surgical technologies to challenging environments, representing a predictable engineering solution
Source Patent Element
Ultrasound imaging data tracking pose of surgical instruments
PTD Variation
Implementing data encryption protocols for secure transmission of ultrasound imaging data
Obviousness Reasoning
Applying standard cybersecurity techniques to medical imaging data represents a known and obvious approach to protecting sensitive information in medical technologies
Source Patent Element
Robot arm and end-effector configuration for surgical navigation
PTD Variation
Creating waterproof and dustproof end-effector designs for extreme weather conditions
Obviousness Reasoning
Environmental adaptation through standard materials engineering and protective design techniques is a predictable solution for extending medical robotic systems into challenging operational contexts
Source Patent Element
Ultrasound transducer coupled to surgical robot end-effector
PTD Variation
Integrating remote expert guidance capabilities through real-time data transmission
Obviousness Reasoning
Implementing telemedicine and remote consultation technologies represents an obvious extension of existing surgical navigation systems using standard telecommunications and networking approaches
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on US Patent 11857273's comprehensive disclosure of ultrasonic robotic surgical navigation systems, the present publication demonstrates that the claimed variations represent obvious modifications to the foundational technological framework, employing standard engineering techniques to adapt the core technological principles to specialized operational environments. A person having ordinary skill in the art would find the disclosed adaptations to be straightforward and predictable extensions of the existing technological state of the art.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,273
TitleUltrasonic robotic surgical navigation
Assignee(s)Globus Medical, Inc.