Robotically Driven Colpotomy Cup for Single-User Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical instruments and systems lack the ability to perform minimally invasive procedures with enhanced imaging and guidance, requiring awkward arm motions and are not easily controllable by a single user.
Innovation Solution
A robotically-enabled medical system with a cart-based or table-based configuration that includes robotic arms and a tower for supporting medical instruments, providing enhanced imaging and guidance, allowing single-user control, and enabling procedures like bronchoscopy, ureteroscopy, and laparoscopy with improved ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional manual surgical instruments are used, then the procedure can be performed with simple equipment, but the operator requires awkward arm motions and cannot be easily controlled by a single user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical manipulation with a robotic system that uses servo motors and master controllers to actuate surgical instruments. The robotic arm manipulates the uterine manipulator and colpotomy cup through automated mechanical systems, eliminating the need for awkward arm motions while enabling precise control by a single operator through the master controller interface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional surgical approaches are used, then the setup is simple, but multiple users are required and arm motions are awkward
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is designed to perform multiple surgical functions through a single integrated platform. The master controller can operate various surgical instruments including the uterine manipulator, colpotomy cup, and other surgical tools, allowing one operator to perform tasks that traditionally required multiple users. The system provides versatile control capabilities for different surgical procedures.
3Loss of information
If manual manipulation of uterine manipulator is used, then the system is simple, but imaging and guidance are not enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system incorporates imaging and guidance systems that provide real-time feedback to the operator. The master controller receives information from imaging systems and uses this feedback to guide the robotic arm's movements, enhancing the operator's ability to visualize and navigate surgical anatomy. This feedback loop improves imaging utilization and guidance quality compared to manual manipulation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An apparatus includes a base portion, a shaft, a colpotomy cup, and a colpotomy cup actuation assembly. The colpotomy cup is slidably attached along a length of the shaft and is configured to acuate along the shaft between a proximal position and a distal position. The a colpotomy cup actuation assembly is configured to drive the colpotomy cup between a proximal position and a distal position. The colpotomy cup actuation assembly includes an actuating assembly configured to operatively couple with a drive output of a robotic arm. The colpotomy cup actuation assembly further includes an elongated member extending distally from the actuating assembly and terminating into a distal end fixed relative to the colpotomy cup. The actuating assembly is configured to drive movement of the elongated member relative to the elongated shaft to thereby drive movement of the colpotomy cup between the proximal position and the distal position.