Medical Support Robot for Isolated Instrument Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical workers and medical appliances are at high risk of infection from infectious diseases, particularly during the treatment of infected patients, as existing medical robots do not adequately address the containment and handling of infectious disease sources.
Innovation Solution
A medical support robot system comprising a storage unit, robotic arms with end effectors, a traveling structure, and a controller, which supports and remotely operates medical robots to handle medical instruments, ensuring isolation and disinfection protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If medical workers manually handle medical instruments and appliances during treatment of infected patients, then medical practice can be performed, but medical workers are at high risk of infection from infectious disease sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a medical robot as an intermediary device between the medical worker and the patient. The robot performs manual handling of medical instruments and appliances, thereby mediating the interaction and reducing direct contact between the medical worker and infectious disease sources while maintaining operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The medical robot is equipped with autonomous navigation and positioning capabilities, allowing it to move independently within the treatment room and position itself for optimal treatment angles without requiring constant manual guidance, thus reducing the operational burden on medical workers
2Reliability
If medical appliances are manually handled after treatment, then medical practice support is provided, but medical appliances become contaminated by infectious disease sources
Solution Approach 1:
The medical robot serves as an intermediary that handles medical appliances between the treatment area and storage areas. By using the robot for transport and positioning rather than manual handling, the system prevents contamination of medical appliances while maintaining the complexity of the handling system at acceptable levels through automated control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical handling with an automated robotic system controlled by a controller. This substitution reduces the complexity of contamination prevention protocols while maintaining effective handling capability through programmatic control of the robot's movements and positioning
3Reliability
If a medical robot system is introduced to reduce infection risk, then worker safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The medical robot is designed with multi-functionality, serving multiple purposes including navigation, positioning, instrument handling, and appliance transport. By consolidating these functions into a single robotic system rather than requiring separate specialized devices, the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining effective infection control
Solution Approach 2:
The robot acts as a flexible intermediary that can adapt to various treatment scenarios and patient positions. This versatility allows a single robotic system to replace multiple specialized devices and manual procedures, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable infection control through consistent automated operation
Data Source
AI summary
A medical support robot includes: a storage that houses a medical instrument; at least one robotic arm including a tip including an end effector that handles the medical instrument; a traveling structure that supports the storage and the at least one robotic arm and travels; and circuitry that performs control that may comprising causing the traveling structure to move to a medical robot that is a robot that performs medical practice.