Laparoscopic Device Distal Handle Mimicking Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional minimally invasive surgical (MIS) devices have limited motion capabilities and lack true force feedback, leading to increased operator fatigue and high manufacturing costs, especially in robotic systems that attempt to assist in procedures like laparoscopic surgery.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device with a mechanical transmission system that mimics the motion of an actuator, allowing the end effector assembly to move in the same direction as the handle, providing more degrees of freedom and eliminating the need for direct human contact, while being cost-effective and reducing operator fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional MIS devices use mirrored motion between handle and end effector, then the device structure is simple, but operator fatigue increases and surgical precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional mirrored motion relationship between handle and end effector. Instead of the end effector moving in the opposite direction of the handle (mirrored motion), the end effector now moves in the same direction as the handle (mimicked motion). This inversion of the motion relationship directly addresses operator fatigue by providing more intuitive control, while the distal handle design keeps the mechanical transmission relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the handle from the proximal end to the distal end of the device, changing the spatial dimension of the control interface. This distal handle positioning allows the operator to apply force more directly along the device axis, improving control efficiency and reducing fatigue. The mechanical transmission system adapts to this dimensional change by reconfiguring the linkage geometry.
2Adaptability or versatility
If robotic systems are used to assist in MIS procedures, then degrees of freedom and motion control are improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex robotic mechanical systems with a simplified distal handle design and mechanical transmission system. By positioning the handle at the distal end and using direct mechanical linkages, the device achieves multiple degrees of freedom and intuitive motion control without requiring expensive robotic actuators, sensors, and control systems. This substitution of mechanical architecture dramatically reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified mechanical copy of natural hand movements through the distal handle design. The handle geometry and mechanical transmission replicate the degrees of freedom and motion characteristics of human hand articulation, providing intuitive control without needing complex robotic systems. This copying approach achieves robotic-like versatility at much lower cost.
3Measurement precision
If robotic systems provide force feedback to the surgeon, then surgical precision is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The distal handle design allows the operator to directly apply and feel forces at the treatment site through the mechanical transmission system. The handle position enables the operator's hand to serve as both the actuator and the sensor, providing natural force feedback without requiring separate feedback mechanisms. This self-service approach maintains surgical precision while avoiding complex feedback systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices are provided for controlling movement of an end effector assembly, and in particular for causing mimicking motion between a handle and an end effector assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, a surgical device is provided having a handle or actuator, an elongate shaft, and an end effector assembly coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft. The handle or actuator is configured such that movement of the handle is mimicked, not mirrored, by the end effector assembly. The mimicking motion can be achieved using various techniques, but in an exemplary embodiment the handle is located distal to an input joint, and motion is transferred to the end effector assembly through an output joint at a distal end of the elongate shaft. The motion is preferably transferred using a mechanical transmission coupled between the input and output joints.