Rotatable Airway Coupling for Robotic Procedures During Patient Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

In robotic medical procedures, airway management devices such as endotracheal tubes can become displaced from the patient airway due to unexpected patient motion, leading to potential loss of mechanical ventilation and damage to the trachea, as they are fixedly connected to a robotic medical system and cannot accommodate patient movement.

Innovation Solution

A system for movably coupling a robotic medical system to an anatomic orifice device, featuring a hollow medial portion with a passageway and a coupling member with a curved surface to rotatably connect the anatomic orifice device, allowing for flexible connections that accommodate patient motion and include a sensing mechanism to disconnect when necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the airway management device is fixedly connected to the robotic medical system, then the connection stability is improved, but the adaptability to patient motion deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to patient motion

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connection mechanism transitions from a fixed rigid connection to a dynamic flexible connection using a flexible tubular element that can deform and move relative to both the robotic system and patient airway, allowing the system to adapt to patient motion while maintaining connection integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A flexible tubular element is introduced between the robotic medical system and the airway management device, providing flexibility to accommodate patient motion while maintaining the functional connection, thus resolving the contradiction between connection stability and adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If the airway management device is fixedly connected to the robotic medical system, then the operational reliability is improved, but the patient safety deteriorates during unexpected motion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidpatient safety during unexpected motion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connection mechanism is designed to dynamically respond to excessive forces generated by unexpected patient motion, automatically releasing the airway management device from the robotic system to prevent tracheal damage while maintaining reliable operation during normal conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connection mechanism incorporates a fail-safe release mechanism that is pre-configured to automatically disconnect under excessive force conditions, providing beforehand protection against patient safety hazards during unexpected motion events

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible connection is used to accommodate patient motion, then the adaptability to patient motion is improved, but the connection stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of patient motionVSAvoidconnection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible tubular element is used to provide the necessary flexibility for accommodating patient motion while maintaining connection stability through controlled deformation and elastic recovery, allowing the system to adapt to motion without losing connection integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The connection mechanism changes its mechanical parameters (stiffness, flexibility) based on operating conditions, maintaining rigid connection during normal conditions and transitioning to flexible mode during patient motion, thus balancing connection stability and adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a mechanical release mechanism is added to ensure patient safety, then the patient safety is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient safetyVSAvoidmechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The release mechanism is designed to be self-actuating, automatically detecting excessive forces during patient motion and releasing the connection without requiring external control systems or complex actuation mechanisms, thus improving patient safety while minimizing added complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Complex electronic sensing and control systems are replaced with simpler mechanical force-sensitive mechanisms that automatically respond to excessive forces, reducing device complexity while maintaining patient safety through the mechanical fail-safe release

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12369999B2Systems and methods for coupling components of a medical system

Publication Date: 2025.07.29 INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS INC

AI summary

An apparatus for movably coupling a robotic medical instrument system to an anatomic orifice device comprises a hollow medial portion including a first end, a second end, and a passageway therebetween. The apparatus further comprises a coupling member coupled to the medial portion along a longitudinal axis of the medial portion. The passageway extends through the coupling member, and the coupling member comprises a curved surface configured to rotatably connect the anatomic orifice device to the robotic medical instrument system.