Foot Control of a Surgical Laparoscopic Gripper via 5DoF Haptic Robotic Platform: Design, Dynamics and Haptic Shared Control

Foot devices have been ubiquitously used in surgery to control surgical equipment. Most common applications are foot switches for electro-surgery, endoscope positioning and tele-robotic consoles. Switches fall short of providing continuous control as required for precise use of instruments. We developed a haptic foot interface to provide continuous assistance in surgical procedures. This paper concerns the foot control of simultaneous five degrees of freedom (DoF) of a surgical laparoscopic gripper. We assess systematically precision at controlling position and orientation at the target and closing of the forceps. Our controller provides position:position mapping between the foot and the robotic tool, as well as haptic feedback, compensating for gravity of the lower limb of the operator so as to alleviate fatigue. A dynamic model compensation and closed loop force feedback is used to achieve high transparency and backdrivability. The assistance is based on a novel type of haptic fixtures combining spring-damper with selective dynamic compensation in the direction aligned with the task of grasping, so as to simplify control of certain poses, made difficult due to the coupling between human lower limbs’ DoF’s. We experimentally evaluated the control strategy with six users on a position control surgical task in simulation. Results show the proposed assistance greatly eases the foot grasping task leading to higher completeness, efficiency, and lower mental and physical load.

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Related concepts (4)

Control theory

Control theory is a field of control engineering and applied mathematics that deals with the control of dynamical systems in engineered processes and machines. The objective is to develop a model or algorithm governing the application of system inputs to drive the system to a desired state, while minimizing any delay, overshoot, or steady-state error and ensuring a level of control stability; often with the aim to achieve a degree of optimality. To do this, a controller with the requisite corrective behavior is required.

Foot

The foot (: feet) is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made up of one or more segments or bones, generally including claws and/or nails. The word "foot", in the sense of meaning the "terminal part of the leg of a vertebrate animal" comes from Old English fot, from Proto-Germanic *fot (source also of Old Frisian fot, Old Saxon fot, Old Norse fotr, Danish fod, Swedish fot, Dutch voet, Old High German fuoz, German Fuß, Gothic fotus, all meaning "foot"), from PIE root *ped- "foot".

Haptic technology

Haptic technology (also kinaesthetic communication or 3D touch) is technology that can create an experience of touch by applying forces, vibrations, or motions to the user. These technologies can be used to create virtual objects in a computer simulation, to control virtual objects, and to enhance remote control of machines and devices (telerobotics). Haptic devices may incorporate tactile sensors that measure forces exerted by the user on the interface. The word haptic, from the ἁπτικός (haptikos), means "tactile, pertaining to the sense of touch".