RCM-ACT: Imitation Learning with Dynamic RCM Calibration for Autonomous Intraocular Foreign Body Removal
About
Intraocular foreign body removal demands millimeter-level precision in confined intraocular spaces, yet existing robotic systems predominantly rely on manual teleoperation with steep learning curves. To address the challenges of autonomous manipulation, particularly kinematic uncertainties from variable motion scaling and Remote Center of Motion (RCM) point variation, we propose RCM-ACT, an imitation learning framework for autonomous intraocular foreign body ring manipulation. Our approach integrates RCM dynamic calibration to resolve coordinate system inconsistencies caused by intraocular instrument variation and introduces the RCM-ACT architecture, which combines action chunking transformers with episode-level kinematic realignment. Trained solely on stereo visual data and instrument kinematics from expert demonstrations in an artificial eye model, RCM-ACT successfully completes ring grasping and positioning tasks without explicit depth sensing. Experimental validation demonstrates the successful implementation of end-to-end autonomy under uncalibrated microscopy conditions, achieving a mean 3-D Euclidean grasp deviation of 0.686 mm and 11/20 full-task successes. The results provide a viable framework for developing intelligent eye surgical systems capable of complex intraocular procedures.