Sterile Adapter Latch for Teleoperated Instrument Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

In minimally invasive surgical procedures, maintaining a sterile environment is challenging due to the need to frequently attach and detach surgical instruments from teleoperated actuators, which are often damaged by conventional sterilization methods, and limited space constraints lead to contamination risks.

Innovation Solution

A sterile drape system with an instrument sterile adapter (ISA) and latch mechanism that securely attaches and detaches surgical instruments from teleoperated actuators, ensuring a sterile coupling point and facilitating quick instrument exchanges while preventing contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If surgical instruments are frequently attached and detached from teleoperated actuators, then instrument versatility is improved, but contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstrument exchange capabilityVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into sterile and non-sterile zones using a sterile adapter and drape. The sterile adapter interface separates the instrument holder (sterile side) from the actuator (non-sterile side), allowing independent handling of each zone. This segmentation enables instrument exchanges on the sterile side without exposing the non-sterile actuator components to contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sterile adapter acts as an intermediary component between the instrument and actuator. It provides a sterile interface that mechanically couples the instrument holder to the actuator while maintaining the sterile barrier. The drape serves as another intermediary layer that physically isolates the actuator from the sterile surgical field.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If teleoperated actuators are sterilized using conventional methods, then sterility is improved, but the actuator components are damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterility maintenanceVSAvoidactuator component integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The actuator is extracted from the sterile zone and placed in a non-sterile zone, eliminating the need for its sterilization. Only the sterile adapter and drape components that interface with the sterile field require sterilization, while the sensitive actuator components remain isolated and protected from sterilization processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A flexible sterile drape is used to create a physical barrier that envelops the actuator, isolating it from the sterile surgical environment. This thin film barrier allows the actuator to remain non-sterile while maintaining the sterility of the surgical field, avoiding the need to sterilize the actuator's sensitive components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Area of stationary object

If multiple instruments share limited entry ports, then space utilization is improved, but contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentry port utilizationVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sterile adapter provides a universal interface that accommodates multiple different surgical instruments while maintaining a consistent sterile barrier. This multi-functional adapter allows various instruments to be coupled to the same actuator through a standardized sterile interface, enabling efficient use of limited entry ports without compromising sterility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10898288B2Latch to secure teleoperated surgical instrument to actuator

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS INC

AI summary

An instrument sterile adapter (310) couples a surgical instrument (120) and an instrument carriage (130). The instrument sterile adapter (310) includes an instrument plate (430) that provides a first surface to receive the surgical instrument (120) and a latch plate (400) joined to the instrument plate (430). The latch plate (400) includes a second surface to receive the instrument carriage (130) and latch structures. Each latch structure has a carriage latch arm (410) that extends away from the second surface of the latch plate (400) and an instrument latch arm (405) joined to the carriage latch arm (410). The instrument latch arm (405) extends through the instrument plate (430) and away from the first surface of the instrument plate (430). A connecting member (425) flexibly connects the carriage latch arm (410) and the instrument latch arm (405) to a remainder of the latch plate (400). The connecting member (425) may be perpendicular to the latch arms (405). The latch arms (405) may engage fixed locking surfaces in the instrument carriage (130) and the surgical instrument (120).