Robotic Sterility Adapter for Rapid End-Effector Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical robots face challenges in maintaining a sterile field during intraoperative exchange of end effectors, leading to potential contamination and workflow interruptions, as non-sterile robotic mounting points cannot be effectively sterilized.
Innovation Solution
A sterile barrier adapter with quick-release mechanisms allows for rapid exchange of end effectors without compromising sterility, integrating with a surgical drape to maintain a sterile field and support multiple end effectors within a single procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If end effectors are exchanged during surgery, then surgical flexibility and task capability are improved, but sterility is compromised and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the robotic arm into sterile and non-sterile segments using a sterile barrier drape. The sterile adapter interface is positioned within the sterile field, allowing end effector exchanges to occur without breaching the sterile boundary. This segmentation enables task versatility while maintaining sterility reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
A sterile adapter serves as an intermediary component between the non-sterile robotic mounting point and the sterile surgical field. The adapter includes a sterile barrier portion that interfaces with the robotic arm and a sterile interface portion that receives end effectors. This intermediary enables effector exchange while maintaining the sterile field boundary.
2Reliability
If traditional sterilization methods are applied to robotic mounting points, then sterility is improved, but the robotic components are damaged or rendered inoperative
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile adapter extracts the sterilization requirement from the robotic arm components. By placing the sterile barrier at the adapter interface rather than on the robotic arm itself, the system eliminates the need to subject electronic and mechanical components to autoclave conditions, preserving component integrity while maintaining sterility.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterile adapter and drape are designed as disposable components that can be sterilized via autoclave. After use, they are discarded rather than re-sterilized, while the expensive robotic arm components remain outside the sterile field and are never subjected to sterilization processes, preserving their longevity and functionality.
3Reliability
If sterile barriers are used to protect the surgical field, then contamination risk is reduced, but workflow efficiency and surgical speed decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile adapter incorporates a dynamic quick-release mechanism that allows rapid attachment and detachment of end effectors. This dynamic interface enables efficient workflow by allowing surgeons to exchange tools quickly without manual fastening or complex procedures, maintaining both sterility and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterile drape and adapter system maintains continuous sterility throughout the surgical procedure. By establishing the sterile barrier before surgery and maintaining it through quick-release effector exchanges, the system eliminates interruptions for re-draping or sterilization checks, ensuring continuous surgical workflow without compromising contamination prevention.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple end effectors are exchanged during a single procedure, then surgical versatility is improved, but the complexity of maintaining sterility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile adapter provides a universal interface that can accommodate multiple different end effector types while maintaining a single sterile barrier. The standardized quick-release mechanism and sterile interface design allow various surgical tools to be exchanged without requiring different sterile draping configurations, simplifying sterility management despite increased surgical versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical robotic systems and methods that are configured to form and maintain a sterile field. The robotic systems include an articulated arm comprising a plurality of arm segments and adjustable joints, including a proximal base arm segment, a distal terminal arm segment and at least one intermediate arm segment extending therebetween. The robotic systems also include a sterility adapter comprising a first side removably coupled with the distal terminal arm segment, a second side and a surgical drape attachment interface portion. The robotic systems further include a surgical drape coupled to the surgical attachment interface portion and extending therefrom such that the surgical drape and the sterility adapter define a sterile field beneath the surgical drape and the second side of the sterility adapter. The robotic systems also include a robotic end effector removably coupled with the second side of the sterility adapter positioned within the sterile field.