MIS Robotic Control Terminal Foot-Operated Clutch and Modular Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current robotic control consoles for minimally invasive surgery, particularly in oral surgery, are structurally complex, expensive, and inadequate in human-machine interaction, leading to reduced surgical precision and increased risk of instrument interference and injury.

Innovation Solution

A robotic control terminal and system featuring a foot-operated clutch, master manipulator handle, arm supports, display-and-control portion, and multi-axis robotic arm, which includes pre-configured movement schemes to prevent physical and functional interference between surgical instruments, enhancing operational precision and safety through ergonomic design and real-time image display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing control consoles are used, then surgical operations can be conducted, but the structural complexity increases and manufacturing cost rises

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical operation capabilityVSAvoidcontrol console structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control console is segmented into distinct functional modules: master manipulator handles for surgical control, arm supports for ergonomic positioning, display-and-control portion for system management, and foot-operated clutch for signal communication control. This modular segmentation simplifies the overall structure while maintaining comprehensive surgical functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If existing control consoles are used, then surgical operations can be conducted, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical operation capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the control console into standardized modular components, each module can be manufactured independently using optimized processes, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost while ensuring reliable surgical operation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If existing control consoles are used, then surgical operations can be conducted, but human-machine interaction deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical operation capabilityVSAvoidhuman-machine interaction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The arm supports provide localized ergonomic adjustment at the master manipulator handle position, adapting to the surgeon's specific anatomical needs and preferences. This localized quality enhancement improves human-machine interaction without compromising overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The arm supports are designed to be movably coupled, allowing dynamic adjustment of the master manipulator handles to match the surgeon's arm position and movement patterns. This dynamic adaptability enhances ease of operation while maintaining surgical capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If surgical instruments are allowed to move freely in the oral cavity, then operational flexibility is maintained, but physical and functional interference between instruments occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstrument movement flexibilityVSAvoidinstrument interference and collision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen provides real-time visual feedback of the surgical area and instrument positions, enabling the surgeon to monitor and adjust instrument movements to prevent interference. The system also incorporates feedback mechanisms that detect potential collisions and provide alerts or automatic corrections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a multi-axis robotic arm with multiple degrees of freedom to control instrument movements in three-dimensional space. By operating in multiple dimensions, the system can navigate the limited oral cavity space more effectively, maintaining flexibility while avoiding collisions through precise spatial coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20230233278A1MIS robotic control terminal and robot system

Publication Date: 2023.07.27 HEFEI UNIV OF TECH

AI summary

The present invention relates to MIS robotic control terminal and robot system, wherein the system comprises: a master manipulator handle, for driving at least one slave manipulator coupled thereto; a display-and-control portion, for controlling the master manipulator handle and the at least one slave manipulator coupled to the master manipulator handle; and a foot-operated clutch portion, for breaking signal communication between the master and slave manipulators; in which when a human operator uses the display-and-control portion to establish signal communication between the master manipulator handle and any said slave manipulator, the display-and-control portion is at least capable of according to types of instruments on two said slave manipulators that are currently in communicative connection to master manipulator handles that are different from each other, respectively, defining a moving space of any said slave manipulator in a corresponding surgical area by means of calling movement schemes corresponding to the types of the instruments. The present invention is highly integrated, compact, easy to be understood, and highly human-machine interactive, making the surgical process safe and efficient; and the operator can move freely and flexibly, which can relieve the operator from fatigue.