Robotic Surgical Tool Adapter for Autowasher Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cleaning processes for robotic surgical tools are complex and time-consuming, posing a challenge for effective and efficient cleaning and disinfection of the drive housing and its internal components.
Innovation Solution
An adapter system for robotic surgical tool autowasher systems, which includes a frame with a shoulder and basin, fluid apertures, and alignment features, allows for the secure mounting of the drive housing and facilitates the introduction and drainage of cleaning solutions, ensuring thorough cleaning and disinfection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual cleaning processes are used for robotic surgical tools, then cleaning can be performed without specialized equipment, but the cleaning process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter acts as an intermediary device that couples the drive housing to the autowasher system. It includes a frame with a basin that receives the drive housing, fluid apertures that extend through the frame to allow cleaning solution flow, and alignment features that ensure proper positioning. This intermediary adapter enables automated cleaning without requiring modification of the drive housing itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system is segmented into separate functional components: the adapter with frame and basin, the drive housing, and the autowasher system. The adapter can be detached and reused, while the drive housing remains separate. This segmentation allows the cleaning infrastructure to be independent of the surgical tool being cleaned.
2Reliability
If the drive housing is fully sealed to protect internal components, then component protection is improved, but cleaning solution cannot penetrate internal surfaces for effective disinfection
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment features partially plug the apertures in the drive housing rather than completely sealing them. This partial plugging allows cleaning solution to enter and drain through the apertures while still providing some protection. The basin provides excessive containment capacity to ensure complete submersion and coverage of the drive housing during cleaning.
3Reliability
If complex cleaning protocols are implemented to ensure thorough disinfection, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the cleaning process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter with its basin and fluid apertures is designed to enable the drive housing to be cleaned automatically by the autowasher system. The structure itself facilitates the cleaning process through passive features like the basin that contains solution and the apertures that guide flow, eliminating the need for complex manual cleaning protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
An adapter for a robotic surgical tool autowasher system includes a frame matable with a drive housing of the robotic surgical tool, a shoulder defined on the frame and at least partially circumscribing a basin defined in the frame, and one or more fluid apertures defined in the basin and extending through the frame from a top surface to a bottom surface. One or more alignment features protrude from the frame and are arranged to align with and extend into a corresponding one or more apertures defined in a bottom of the drive housing. At least one of the one or more alignment features only partially plugs an associated aperture of the corresponding one or more apertures.