Extendable Suction Surface for Robotic Surgical Bracing
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Solution Overview
Problem
During robotically assisted medical procedures, it is challenging to maintain precise positioning of surgical instruments and image capturing devices due to external forces and natural movement of tissues or adjacent organs, leading to undesirable movement of bundled units when inserted through a single port.
Innovation Solution
A medical unit with a controllably extendable and retractable suction surface at its distal end, coupled to a vacuum source, is used to brace the unit against anatomic structures, allowing for stable positioning and control of surgical instruments and image capturing devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If surgical instruments and image capturing devices are inserted as a bundled unit through a single port, then the number of incisions is reduced and tissue injury is minimized, but mechanical coupling between bundled components causes undesirable movement of one component when external force is exerted against another
Solution Approach 1:
The suction surface acts as an intermediary bracing mechanism between the bundled surgical instruments and the surrounding tissue. By applying suction through the surface, the system creates a stable anchoring point that prevents unwanted movement of the bundled components during surgery, resolving the mechanical coupling issue while maintaining the single-port benefit
2Measurement precision
If surgical instruments are braced against anatomic structures, then precise positioning is improved, but the complexity of the surgical system increases due to additional bracing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The suction surface integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides bracing stability, maintains positioning precision, and can be controllably extended and retracted. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate bracing mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while achieving precise positioning
3Adaptability or versatility
If a suction surface is made extendable and retractable, then adaptability to different surgical conditions is improved, but the device complexity and control requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The suction surface is designed with controllable extension and retraction capabilities, allowing it to dynamically adapt to different surgical conditions and tissue depths. The extendable plenum chamber can be adjusted during surgery to maintain optimal suction contact, providing versatility while using a controlled mechanical expansion mechanism
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 suction surface effectively stabilizes the bundled unit, enabling precise control and minimizing movement, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of medical procedures by maintaining the position of surgical instruments and image capturing devices relative to the anatomical structure.
Implementation Method 1
the suction surface is couplable to a vacuum source so that at least one opening of the suction surface is provided with a suction force capable of bracing the elongate structure against an anatomic structure
Data Source
AI summary
Medical devices robotically manipulated by a medical robotic system for performing a medical procedure on a patient are bundled together as a bundled unit and inserted into the patient through a single entry port. Bracing of the bundled unit at a surgical site is performed by extending a suction surface disposed at a distal end of the bundled unit towards a bracing surface at the surgical site and applying a suction force between the suction surface and the bracing surface. The suction surface is ring-shaped with holes distributed about the ring so that controllably extendable and retractable tubes coupled at distal ends to the holes provide suction to the suction surface when coupled at proximal ends to a vacuum source.