Specialized Surgeon Input Devices for Niche Environments

Publication ID: 24-11857285_0004_PTD
Published: November 07, 2025
Category:Specialized Variations & Niche Solutions

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Specialized Surgeon Input Devices for Niche Environments,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857285_0004_PTD, Published November 07, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857285_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. 11,857,285.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

The present disclosure relates to a family of surgeon input devices adapted for specific, high-demand environments, including high-security, disaster relief, extreme weather, high-magnetic field, and low-light conditions, ensuring precise control of robotic assisted surgical systems in these unique settings.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent disclosed a surgeon input device for minimally invasive surgery. However, the existing device may not be suitable for use in specialized environments that require additional features for secure, reliable, and efficient operation. The present inventive concept addresses this limitation by providing customized solutions for these niche markets.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The high-security surgeon input device features a tamper-evident housing, ensuring the integrity of the device in high-risk environments. The disaster relief surgeon input device is designed to be portable, allowing for easy deployment in temporary medical facilities. The extreme weather surgeon input device incorporates a weather-resistant housing, protecting the device from harsh environmental conditions. The high-magnetic field surgeon input device features a magnetically shielded housing, minimizing interference with the device's operation. The low-light surgeon input device includes a built-in illumination source, enabling surgeons to operate effectively in dimly lit environments. Each device incorporates at least one sensor probe to detect the surgeon's hand movements, providing precise control of the robotic assisted surgical system.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The inventive concept's novelty lies in the customization of the surgeon input device for specific, high-demand environments. The combination of specialized housing designs, sensor probes, and additional features (e.g., tamper-evident, portable, weather-resistant, magnetically shielded, or built-in illumination) provides a non-obvious solution for precise control of robotic assisted surgical systems in these unique settings.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments may include using different types of sensors, such as capacitive, electromagnetic, or inertial measurement unit sensors. Variations may include adapting the devices for use in other specialized environments, such as high-radiation or sterile environments.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The specialized surgeon input devices have significant commercial potential in various industries, including healthcare, disaster relief, and aerospace. These devices can be marketed to hospitals, medical research institutions, and government agencies, providing a competitive edge in their respective markets.

Field of Art

Robotic surgical systems and human-machine interface technologies, specifically surgeon input devices for minimally invasive surgical procedures. Requires expertise in mechanical engineering, sensor technologies, human factors engineering, and medical device design

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or robotics specialist with advanced degree, 3-5 years experience in surgical robotics, familiar with sensor integration, wireless communication protocols, and ergonomic device design for medical environments

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that adapting the base surgeon input device to specialized environments represents predictable variations using known design techniques. The core sensing and control mechanisms remain fundamentally consistent across the disclosed variations, with modifications primarily addressing environmental constraints. These adaptations represent standard engineering problem-solving approaches for extending device functionality into niche use cases.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Housing with electromagnetic signal transmitter and sensor probe for detecting surgeon hand movements
PTD Variation
Adding tamper-evident or weather-resistant housing modifications while maintaining core sensor functionality
Obviousness Reasoning
Modifying device housing materials and structural characteristics is a routine design choice for adapting to specific environmental requirements, with predictable results in sensor performance
Source Patent Element
Wireless communication interface (Bluetooth) for device control
PTD Variation
Implementing portable design for disaster relief environments with consistent wireless connectivity
Obviousness Reasoning
Creating compact, transportable versions of medical devices is a known technique for expanding operational contexts, utilizing existing wireless communication standards
Source Patent Element
Multiple sensor types including capacitive, electromagnetic, and optical sensors
PTD Variation
Integrating additional sensor shielding or illumination to manage high-magnetic or low-light environments
Obviousness Reasoning
Adapting sensor configurations to manage environmental interference represents a standard engineering approach with predictable outcomes in signal detection and device performance
Source Patent Element
Hand detection and movement tracking using sensor probes
PTD Variation
Extending device functionality through specialized housing designs targeting specific operational contexts
Obviousness Reasoning
Applying consistent sensing principles across varied environmental contexts demonstrates routine technological adaptation with expected performance characteristics
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. ยง 103, the variations disclosed herein would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention, as taught by US Patent 11857285, with the modifications representing predictable engineering solutions that do not rise to the level of non-obvious innovation. The disclosed technical variations represent standard design adaptations that would be readily conceived by a skilled practitioner seeking to extend surgical input device functionality across diverse operational environments.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,285
TitleSurgeon input device for minimally invasive surgery