Remote Manipulator for Catheter Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical device automation systems cannot fully automate the operation of conventional manually operated medical devices, limiting the ability to remotely navigate and operate medical devices for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures without human intervention.
Innovation Solution
A remote manipulator system that engages and operates medical devices, allowing for remote navigation and operation of elongated medical devices, such as catheters, by using a device driver mounted on an articulated arm with flexible drive cables and clamps to mimic human control, enabling complete automation of medical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a remote navigation system is used to navigate a medical device, then the physician can remotely orient the distal end of the device, but the device cannot be fully automated to perform diagnostic or therapeutic procedures without human intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The device driver replicates the handle's control mechanisms by providing a duplicate interface that mirrors the original device controls. This allows the remote manipulator to operate the medical device as if directly manipulating the handle, enabling full automation while maintaining ease of operation through familiar control interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The device driver acts as an intermediary between the remote manipulator and the medical device. It interfaces with the device's control mechanisms and translates remote commands into appropriate device operations, enabling automated control while preserving the ability to perform complex diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
2Extent of automation
If an automated advancer is used to advance and retract the device, then more fully automated catheter navigation is achieved, but the device still requires human intervention for procedural operations
Solution Approach 1:
The device driver is designed to be universally compatible with various medical devices by providing a standardized interface that can accommodate different control mechanisms. This allows a single remote manipulator system to perform multiple functions including navigation, advancement, retraction, and procedural operations across different device types
3Reliability
If a device driver with clamps is used to engage the medical device, then secure gripping and manipulation is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device driver is segmented into distinct functional components including clamps for engagement, a gripping mechanism for manipulation, and an interface section for device connection. This modular segmentation provides reliable device engagement through specialized components while allowing each segment to be optimized independently, managing overall system complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for operating a catheter having a distal end adapted to be navigated in the body, and a proximal end having a handle with a translatable control and a rotatable control for acting on the distal end of the device includes a support for receiving and engaging the handle of the catheter; a translation mechanism for advancing and retracting the support to advance and retract a catheter whose handle is received in the support; a rotation mechanism for rotating the support to rotate a catheter whose handle is received in the support; a translation operator for engaging the translatable control of a catheter whose handle is received in the support and operating the translatable control to act on the distal end of the device; and a rotation operator for engaging the rotatable control of a catheter.