Needle Assembly for Robotic Surgical Injection and Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally-invasive robotic surgical-assist systems lack the necessary hardware and software for precise injection or extraction of materials within the body, limiting their ability to perform tasks such as stem cell delivery and biopsy sampling.
Innovation Solution
A surgical robot with a robot arm equipped with a needle assembly and control systems that allow for precise injection or extraction of materials, including stem cells, chemotherapy beads, and other fluids, through a software interface that enables controlled operation of the end effector for precise positioning and material delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current robotic surgical-assist systems are used, then high-precision positioning is achieved, but injection or extraction capability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector is designed to perform multiple functions: it can both position surgical tools with high precision and perform injection or extraction operations through an integrated needle assembly. The needle assembly can be attached to the end effector to enable material delivery or removal, allowing a single system to handle both positioning and injection/extraction tasks without requiring separate dedicated devices
Solution Approach 2:
The needle assembly is designed to be nested within or attached to the end effector structure. The needle can be housed within the end effector when not in use and deployed when injection or extraction is required, allowing the injection capability to be integrated into the existing robotic arm structure without significantly increasing overall system complexity
2Measurement precision
If manual injection methods are used, then simplicity is maintained, but precision and control are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates control systems that provide feedback on the injection process. The robot control system receives signals from the end effector control system regarding needle position, material delivery status, and extraction volume, allowing for real-time adjustments to maintain high precision while keeping the operation automated and simple for the surgeon
Solution Approach 2:
The needle assembly includes integrated control mechanisms that automatically regulate material flow and injection parameters. The system can self-adjust injection rates, pressures, and volumes based on pre-programmed parameters or real-time feedback, eliminating the need for manual adjustment while maintaining precision and simplifying the surgeon's role to oversight and monitoring
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments of the invention, a surgical robot includes a robot arm having an end effector, the end effector comprising a needle assembly. The surgical robot further includes a robot control system operatively connected to the robot arm, and an end effector control system operatively connected to the end effector. The robot control system provides control signals for operation of the robot arm to move the end effector to selected positions relative to a subject. The end effector control system is configured to provide signals for operation of the end effector to at least one of inject material through the needle assembly to a selected location within the subject's body or extract material through the needle assembly from the selected location within the subject's body.