Packaging Insert With Drive Transfer Retention for Surgical Robot Drapes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical drapes for robot arms are cumbersome to apply and time-consuming, disrupting the sterile environment and complicating instrument exchanges during operations.

Innovation Solution

A surgical drape assembly with a packaging insert featuring engagement portions, drive transfer elements, and a handle that facilitates easy and sterile application over the robot arm, ensuring quick and secure attachment of instruments while maintaining a sterile barrier.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing surgical drapes are used to cover the robot arm, then sterility is maintained, but the application process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesterilityVSAvoidapplication time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The drape is divided into multiple sections with distinct functions: a main body portion covering the robot arm, an engagement portion with retention portions for securing drive transfer elements, and a packaging insert for structured organization. This segmentation allows each part to be applied efficiently while maintaining overall sterility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Drive transfer elements are pre-attached to the packaging insert in a organized manner before the drape is applied. The packaging insert serves as a preliminary mounting structure, allowing rapid transfer of elements to the drape during the surgical procedure without compromising sterility or requiring time-consuming manual assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If instruments are exchanged mid-operation, then surgical flexibility is improved, but the time required for instrument detachment and attachment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstrument exchange capabilityVSAvoidinstrument exchange time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement portion features deformable lips that can be easily deformed to release drive transfer elements during instrument exchange. This dynamic engagement mechanism allows rapid detachment and reattachment of instruments while maintaining secure holding during normal operation, enabling flexible instrument changes without time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The packaging insert acts as an intermediary structure that organizes and presents drive transfer elements for rapid transfer to the drape. During instrument exchange, the packaging insert serves as a temporary holding structure, allowing quick replacement of instruments without direct manipulation of the sterile field or complex detachment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a sterile drape is applied over the robot arm, then contamination is prevented, but the complexity of the application process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidapplication complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging insert combines multiple functions into a single component: it serves as the drape package, the organizational structure for drive transfer elements, the transfer mechanism during application, and the temporary holding structure during instrument exchange. This merging eliminates the need for separate tools or procedures, reducing application complexity while maintaining sterility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The packaging insert is designed to be self-contained and self-explanatory, with features that guide the application process without requiring external tools or complex procedures. The retention portions, deformable lips, and organized structure of drive transfer elements enable the user to apply the drape and exchange instruments using only the components provided, reducing procedural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3512455B1Packaging insert
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 CMR SURGICAL LTD
  • EP3512455B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3512455B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3512455B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A packaging insert configured to engage a portion of a surgical drape for locating the drape on a surgical robot arm, the drape comprising a drive transfer element for transferring drive between the robot arm and a surgical instrument,the packaging insert comprising a body and a retention portion engageable with the drive transfer element for retaining the drive transfer element in a desired position.