Cannula Securing Assembly with Biasing Locking Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic surgical systems face challenges in ensuring the stability of cannulas during surgical operations and efficiently engaging and disengaging them from the surgical system, which affects the precision and safety of minimally invasive surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A cannula securing assembly with a housing, locking plate, releasing mechanism, and compression mechanism that biases the locking plate to engage and disengage the cannula, enhancing stability and ease of mounting/unmounting, optionally incorporating sensors for force measurement and a retainer plate for reciprocating movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional cannula mount is used to dock the cannula to the robotic arm assembly, then the cannula can be secured during surgical procedures, but the locking and unlocking process is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The compression mechanism automatically biases the locking plate into the locked position upon cannula insertion, and the releasing mechanism allows quick disengagement by simply pressing a button. The system serves itself by automatically securing the cannula without requiring complex manual locking procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The releasing mechanism extracts the locking function into a separate, easily accessible button interface on the exterior surface of the housing. This separates the complex internal locking mechanism from the user interaction point, making the unlocking process simple while maintaining reliable internal engagement.
2Reliability
If a conventional cannula mount is used to dock the cannula to the robotic arm assembly, then the cannula can be secured during surgical procedures, but the mounting and unmounting process requires multiple steps
Solution Approach 1:
The compression mechanism is pre-configured to automatically engage the locking plate in the locked position as soon as the cannula is inserted into the housing. This preliminary automatic action eliminates the need for multiple manual securing steps, allowing rapid mounting while ensuring reliable cannula stabilization.
3Reliability
If the locking plate is constantly biased to engage the cannula, then the cannula remains securely locked during surgery, but the cannula cannot be quickly disengaged when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The releasing mechanism acts as an intermediary that temporarily overrides the compression mechanism's biasing force. When the button is pressed, it disengages the compression mechanism from the locking plate, allowing the cannula to be quickly removed. When released, the compression mechanism automatically re-engages, restoring the locked state without requiring additional user actions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides improved cannula mounting, locking/unlocking, and stability during surgical operations, enhancing the precision and safety of minimally invasive surgeries by ensuring secure engagement and disengagement of the cannula.
Implementation Method 1
a compression mechanism affixed to a slot on an interior surface of the housing that engages when in operation with the locking plate, wherein the compression mechanism biases when in operation the locking plate to facilitate engaging of the cannula with the cannula securing assembly
Implementation Method 2
the cannula securing assembly further comprises one or more sensors to measure force exerted on the cannula and to detect a presence of the cannula in the cannula securing assembly
Data Source
Figure 1(a)
Figure 1(b)
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AI summary
A cannula securing assembly comprises a housing that includes an aperture to receive a portion of the cannula and a locking plate including an aperture that engages when in operation with a portion of the cannula received in aperture of the housing. The locking plate further includes a releasing mechanism at one end of the locking plate, wherein the releasing mechanism is exposed when in operation on an exterior surface of the housing. The cannula securing assembly further comprises a compression mechanism that is affixed to a slot on an interior surface of the housing and engages when in operation with the locking plate, wherein the compression mechanism biases when in operation the locking plate to facilitate engaging of the cannula with the cannula securing assembly and the releasing mechanism disconnects when in operation biasing of the locking plate to facilitate disengaging of the cannula with the cannula securing assembly.