Drape Interface Structure for Sterile Motion Conveyance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical robotic assemblies face challenges in maintaining sterility during procedures due to the impracticality of disinfecting and sterilizing their large mechanical components without damaging them, and existing solutions like disposable coverings may not effectively convey motion through a sterile barrier.
Innovation Solution
A drape interface structure with a membrane spanning a rigid frame, featuring regions of different elastic deformability to minimize resistance to motion along specific paths while maintaining sterility, and incorporating drive transfer elements to convey motion through the membrane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a disposable covering is used to prevent contamination, then sterility is maintained, but motion cannot be effectively conveyed through the barrier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin film membrane as the sterile barrier that can flex and deform to accommodate motion transmission. The membrane is configured to allow drive transfer elements to pass through while maintaining the sterile seal, resolving the contradiction between maintaining sterility and enabling motion conveyance.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is designed with varying thickness parameters - thinner in regions where motion transmission is needed and thicker in regions requiring higher structural integrity. This parameter variation allows the membrane to be more compliant where drive elements pass through while maintaining overall sterility.
2Ease of manufacture
If a uniform thickness membrane is used, then manufacturing is simple, but resistance to motion along drive paths is high
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane features non-uniform thickness with locally optimized regions. Thinner regions are positioned along drive paths to reduce resistance to motion, while thicker regions provide structural support. This local quality variation reduces motion resistance without significantly complicating manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a uniform two-dimensional membrane to a three-dimensional structure with varying thickness. This dimensional addition allows the membrane to have different mechanical properties at different locations, reducing resistance along drive paths while maintaining manufacturability through techniques like co-extrusion or layered construction.
3Force
If the membrane is made thinner to reduce resistance, then motion transmission improves, but the risk of tearing and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is designed with spatially varying thickness where thinner regions are located specifically along drive paths to reduce motion resistance, while thicker regions are positioned in areas requiring higher strength and tear resistance. This local quality differentiation allows the membrane to simultaneously achieve low resistance where needed and high strength where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane may be constructed as a composite structure with multiple layers or materials - a thinner, more compliant layer along drive paths for low resistance, and a thicker, stronger layer in other regions for tear resistance and contamination prevention. This composite approach allows optimization of both motion transmission and structural integrity.
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 structure effectively maintains sterility by allowing motion to be conveyed through the interface while reducing the resistance and tension on the drive transfer elements, thus preventing contamination and facilitating accurate control of surgical instruments.
Implementation Method 1
the membrane may elastically deform without tearing or detaching from the frame
Implementation Method 2
the more deformable region preferentially elastically deforms over the less deformable region
Data Source
AI summary
A drape interface structure including a rigid frame defining an opening, a membrane spanning the opening of the frame, and a drive transfer element attached to the membrane and adapted to convey motion through the membrane. The membrane includes a first region of a first elastic deformability and a second region of a second elastic deformability different from the first elastic deformability.