Medical Robot Drape Attachment With Sheet Pinch Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drapes for medical robots risk pinching the flexible sheet during attachment, leading to poor fixation and damage, which compromises the isolation between clean and unclean areas.

Innovation Solution

A drape design featuring an attachment with a pinch prevention unit that includes a plate-shaped body with higher flexibility than the attachment and lower flexibility than the sheet, equipped with adhesive layers to ensure secure attachment and isolation, preventing the sheet from being pinched between the attachment and the connection portion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the drape is attached to the medical robot using an attachment mechanism, then the isolation between clean and unclean areas is maintained, but the flexible sheet may be pinched between the attachment and connection portion during attachment operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveisolation between clean and unclean areasVSAvoidpinching of flexible sheet
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A pinch prevention unit is introduced as an intermediary component between the attachment and the flexible sheet. This unit includes a plate-shaped body that prevents direct contact and pinching between the attachment mechanism and the sheet, while still allowing the attachment to function properly. The plate-shaped body acts as a mediator that transmits necessary forces while preventing harmful pinching actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the attachment is securely fixed to the medical robot, then the drape maintains proper fixation, but the flexible sheet may be damaged due to pinching during attachment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation of drapeVSAvoidintegrity of flexible sheet
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The plate-shaped body in the pinch prevention unit serves as a protective intermediary that allows secure fixation of the attachment to the medical robot while preventing direct pinching forces from reaching the flexible sheet. This maintains both the stability of the drape fixation and the integrity of the sheet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The pinch prevention unit is designed beforehand to cushion or absorb the potential pinching forces that may occur during attachment operation. By providing this protective measure in advance, the system prevents damage to the flexible sheet while maintaining proper fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the drape is designed to cover the entire medical robot, then complete isolation is achieved, but the attachment operation becomes more complex and risky for pinching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveisolation completenessVSAvoidattachment operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pinch prevention unit acts as a simplified intermediary mechanism that enables complete coverage of the medical robot by the drape without significantly increasing the complexity of the attachment operation. The plate-shaped body provides a straightforward structural solution that reduces operational complexity while maintaining isolation completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Prevents sheet pinching, ensuring reliable isolation between clean and unclean areas by maintaining proper fixation and preventing damage to the drape, thus enhancing surgical sterility.

Implementation Method 1

a first adhesive layer provided on at least a part of an outer surface of the pinch prevention unit, and a second adhesive layer provided on a side of the sheet opposite to a side facing the pinch prevention unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4389056B1drape
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 RIVERFIELD INC
  • EP4389056B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4389056B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4389056B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a drape that can avoid a pinch of the drape sheet when the drape is attached to the medical robot, thereby preventing poor fixation of the attachment and damage to the drape sheet. An aspect of the present invention provides a drape that covers a medical robot, comprising: an attachment that is attached to a connection portion of the medical robot; a sheet having flexibility that is provided inseparably from the attachment and covers the medical robot; and a pinch prevention unit that is provided on the attachment and prevents the sheet from being pinched between the attachment and the connection portion.