Surgical Instrument Research

Measure the hand.
Understand the work.

STYX is an early research concept for capturing the relationship between instrument motion, contact force and the visible surgical field.

The first system is deliberately modest: controlled training materials, wired sensors, synchronized video, and a clear record of what the instrument actually did.

Engineering mockup of a compact coated-gauge instrument with a removable protective sleeve and exposed blade dimensions — Compact coated-gauge prototype — proposed dimensions, not verified CAD. Bench-test cover only; not a sterile barrier or heat shield.

01 / THE QUESTION

Better records begin with a narrower claim.

Video can show where a blade appears to be. It cannot always reveal the force at the handle, the hidden tip, the tissue response, or the operator's intent. STYX is exploring whether a small set of calibrated signals can make those moments easier to study.

Instrument data

Strain gauges, inertial sensing and optical references can describe the tool's motion and load—if they are calibrated against a known setup.

Visual context

Fixed and head-mounted cameras preserve the scene around the tool. Close-up views help, but appearance alone is not ground truth.

Research discipline

Every output should carry its uncertainty, calibration method and limits. The first job is to learn what is useful—not to claim clinical accuracy.

02 / A SYSTEM IN PIECES

A small capture system that can grow with the evidence.

The near-term prototype is a research instrument, not a surgical device. A fixed camera, a close view, a wired acquisition path and a simple data review workflow are enough to test the central question before compact packaging or clinical claims.

Concept render of a fixed surgical motion capture kiosk with cameras and wearable components — Concept direction: a fixed capture point for repeatable views of a training task.

Concept render of a wearable motion capture suite with chest plate, headpiece, wrist tracker and battery pack — Future direction: lightweight wearables that keep the clinician's working area clear.

03 / FIRST BUILD

Start larger. Make the measurement honest.

The first build can leave the electronics outside the handle. That makes the load path, wiring, calibration and data quality visible to a reviewer. Miniaturization comes only after the signal earns its place.

01Wired acquisition

02Phantom or training material

03Video + force timestamps

04No patient or clinical use

04 / START A CONVERSATION

Bring a real workflow.

The most useful next conversation is with someone who can point to a task where measurement, annotation or repeatability is genuinely expensive.

For research partnerships, technical review or early collaboration:
beckett.dillard@icloud.com

Measure the hand.Understand the work.