Robotic Drive Sterile Drape With Resilient Gap Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic medical procedure systems face challenges in maintaining a sterile environment, particularly in separating non-sterile and sterile portions of the robotic drive during minimally-invasive medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A sterile barrier system for robotic drives is introduced, comprising resilient members with free edges that bias away from and return to the longitudinal axis as drive modules move, ensuring a sterile separation between non-sterile and sterile areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sterile barrier is introduced to separate non-sterile and sterile portions of the robotic drive, then the sterile environment is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile barrier is divided into multiple segments including a first resilient member and a second resilient member with free edges, allowing each segment to independently respond to drive module movement while collectively maintaining the sterile seal
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient members are designed with free edges that can dynamically move away from and return to the longitudinal axis as drive modules move, enabling the barrier to adapt to changing positions while maintaining continuous sterile separation
2Reliability
If resilient members with free edges are used to seal gaps between moving drive modules, then the sterile seal is maintained during movement, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient members are self-regulating components that automatically bias away from and return to the longitudinal axis based on drive module movement, requiring no external control mechanisms while maintaining the sterile seal
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient members change their positional parameter dynamically, moving away from the longitudinal axis when drive modules approach and returning when modules move away, allowing continuous sealing adaptation without complex control
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
The sterile barrier system effectively maintains a sterile environment by resiliently sealing the gap between drive modules, preventing contamination and ensuring the integrity of the sterile field during medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a first resilient member having a first free edge proximate the longitudinal axis. The first free edge adjacent the first drive module is resiliently biased away from and returned to the longitudinal axis as the first drive module moves along the longitudinal axis
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter-based procedure system comprises: a robotic drive body; a support arm supporting the robotic drive body; a first drive module configured to move along a longitudinal axis of the robotic drive body; a second drive module configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the robotic drive body, the second drive module being separate from the first drive module; and a sterile barrier. The sterile barrier includes: a first portion covering a portion of the support arm and a portion of the robotic drive body; a second portion that is removably coupled to the robotic drive body, the second portion being more rigid than the first portion; a resilient third portion extending from the second portion, the resilient third portion having a first free edge arranged along the longitudinal axis and the first free edge being adjacent the first drive module