Specimen Collector Integrated With Sterile Drape for Robotic Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic medical systems face challenges in efficiently collecting and depositing specimens during procedures, as existing manual methods require significant physical interaction and are not optimized for robotic systems, leading to increased costs and reduced roboticization.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a specimen collector configured to be positioned within a sterile drape, allowing robotic medical systems to deposit specimens robotically, with a porous design for fluid drainage and an open-retaining device to facilitate specimen collection, minimizing manual interaction and enhancing procedural efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual specimen collection methods are used, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but roboticization is reduced and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The specimen collector is integrated with the sterile drape to form a unified assembly, combining the specimen collection function with the sterile barrier function. This merging enables robotic operation while maintaining simplicity, as the integrated design eliminates the need for separate manual collection containers and reduces the number of components that need to be managed during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterile drape serves multiple functions: it provides sterile coverage, supports the specimen collector, and facilitates robotic specimen collection. By making the drape multi-functional, the system achieves roboticization without adding excessive complexity, as one component (the drape) performs multiple roles including specimen collection.
2Productivity
If manual specimen collection is used, then procedural flexibility is maintained, but productivity is reduced due to increased manual interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The specimen collector is designed to be automatically deposited into the sterile drape during robotic operation without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by using the robotic arm to deposit the specimen directly into the collector that is already positioned on the drape, eliminating the need for additional manual steps and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The specimen collector is pre-positioned on the sterile drape before the robotic procedure begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the robotic arm deposits the specimen, the collector is already in the correct location and ready to receive the specimen, thereby improving efficiency and reducing manual intervention during the procedure.
3Reliability
If a sealed specimen collector is used, then specimen security is improved, but fluid drainage is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile drape is designed with a porous region that allows fluid to pass through while maintaining the overall integrity and sealed nature of the drape for specimen containment. This porous structure enables the drape to simultaneously provide specimen security and facilitate fluid drainage, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient robotic specimen collection and deposition, reducing manual intervention, lowering costs, and improving the automation of medical procedures by integrating the specimen collector into the robotic system's sterile drape, ensuring easy specimen handling and analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The receptacle portion (302) can include a porous portion configured to allow fluid to drain therefrom
Data Source
AI summary
Specimen collectors configured for use with robotic medical systems are described herein. A robotic medical system can include a medical instrument that can be inserted into a patient to capture a specimen. A robotic manipulator can be engaged with the medical instrument and configured to operate the medical instrument. A sterile barrier can be used to separate a sterile field containing the medical instrument from a non-sterile field containing the robotic manipulator. A specimen collector can include a receptacle portion in the sterile field and configured to receive the specimen when the distal end of the medical instrument is withdrawn from the patient and a connector coupled to the receptacle portion and configured to attach to the robotic medical system. The robotic system can deposit the specimen in the receptacle portion.