Sterile Barrier Drape Coupler for Robotic Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic surgery systems pose challenges in maintaining sterility due to their size and complexity, making it impractical to sterilize entire components, and existing methods are inadequate for ensuring sterility during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A sterile barrier system for robotic surgery apparatuses, including a drape coupler and flexible drape, uses ferromagnetic fasteners for attachment and includes adaptable regions to cover and protect components, ensuring sterility by creating a sterile field around critical areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire robotic surgery system is sterilized, then sterility is ensured, but the system cannot be sterilized due to its size and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the robotic surgery system into sterile and non-sterile zones using a sterile barrier system. The barrier includes a drape that covers critical components (manipulator unit, instrument interface) while leaving other components accessible. This segmentation allows selective sterilization of only the necessary components rather than the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterile barrier acts as an intermediary between the non-sterile robotic system components and the sterile surgical field. The barrier includes a drape with openings that allow instrument passage while maintaining sterility, and flexible regions that accommodate movement without compromising the sterile boundary.
2Reliability
If a sterile barrier is used to cover components, then sterility is maintained, but the barrier must be rigid which limits adaptability to component movements
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile barrier incorporates flexible regions made of elastomeric material that can stretch and deform. These flexible regions are positioned at openings where instruments pass through and at areas adjacent to moving components. The material properties allow the barrier to dynamically adapt to component movements while maintaining the sterile boundary.
Solution Approach 2:
The drape is constructed from flexible material that forms a continuous barrier while accommodating three-dimensional movements of robotic components. The flexible nature allows the barrier to conform to changing geometries without creating gaps that would compromise sterility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the drape is made completely flexible, then adaptability to movement is improved, but structural support and stability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile barrier combines flexible elastomeric material with rigid or semi-rigid structural elements. The composite construction provides both the flexibility needed to accommodate movements and the structural integrity to maintain the sterile boundary. The rigid portions provide support at critical areas while flexible portions allow movement.
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
The system effectively maintains sterility by covering and protecting robotic surgery components, preventing contamination and ensuring a sterile environment during medical procedures, even when complete sterilization is not feasible.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one drape coupler fastener can include ferromagnetic material configured to be attached to a magnet positioned on the first surface
Data Source
AI summary
A sterile barrier system for a robotic surgery apparatus can include a drape coupler. The drape coupler can include an external surface configured to face a first surface of a first portion of the robotic surgery apparatus. The drape coupler can include at least one drape coupler fastener positioned at least partially on the external surface and configured to removably attach the drape coupler to the first surface. The drape coupler can be configured to at least partially cover the first surface. The system can include a drape made of a flexible material and coupled to the drape coupler, the drape configured to wrap around a second surface of the first portion of the robotic surgery apparatus, the second surface different from the first surface. The drape coupler and the drape can be sterile.