Rotating Handle Surgical Tool for Robotic Arm Ergonomics

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Solution Overview

Problem

In robotic surgical systems, the fixed grip of surgical tools often leads to ergonomically uncomfortable positions for surgeons during orthopedic joint replacement surgeries, as the need to maintain precise angular orientation and cutting boundaries conflicts with comfortable grip positioning.

Innovation Solution

A surgical tool design featuring a rotatable handle with a lock assembly that allows adjustment around a second axis without altering the position or angular orientation of the surgical implement, which is mounted on a robotic arm and can be rotated using a lock mechanism and trigger mechanism to accommodate ergonomic needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the grip is fixed with respect to the surgical implement, then the surgical implement maintains correct angular orientation and cutting boundary, but the grip assumes an ergonomically uncomfortable position for the surgeon

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveergonomic comfort of gripVSAvoidangular orientation and cutting boundary precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical tool is divided into separate functional components: a housing that maintains the surgical implement's orientation, a rotatable handle for ergonomic adjustment, and a lock assembly to secure the handle position. This segmentation allows the handle to be adjusted independently without affecting the surgical implement's precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The handle is made dynamically adjustable through a rotatable mechanism that allows the surgeon to change the handle's angular position around the second axis. The lock assembly enables the handle to be locked at various positions, providing adaptability while maintaining the surgical implement's fixed orientation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the handle is made rotatable to improve ergonomics, then the grip position can be adjusted, but the complexity of the device increases due to additional locking mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of grip positionVSAvoidcomplexity of lock assembly and rotation mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation and locking functions are extracted into a separate handle assembly that operates independently from the surgical implement housing. This allows the ergonomic adjustment feature to be added without complicating the core surgical tool structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The lock assembly is designed to be manually operated by the surgeon during the procedure, allowing self-adjustment without requiring external assistance or complex electronic controls. The mechanical locking mechanism provides reliable positioning with simple user interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9161760B2Surgical tool for robotic arm with rotating handle

Publication Date: 2015.10.20 MAKO SURGICAL CORP

AI summary

A surgical tool is disclosed that may be rotatably mounted to a surgical robotic arm. The surgical tool is rotatable about a first axis that is at least substantially vertical when the robotic arm is in a horizontal position. The surgical tool includes a housing that is coupled to the arm and rotatable about the first axis. The housing is at least substantially cylindrical and defines a second axis that is at least substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The tool also includes a handle that includes a grip that is coupled to a sleeve. The sleeve rotatably accommodates at least part of the housing. As a result, the handle and sleeve may be rotated about the second axis while the housing remains fixed with respect to the second axis.