Sterile Drape Assembly With LED Attachment Interfaces For Surgical Robots

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sterile drape assemblies for surgical robots face challenges such as the need for frequent replacement due to uncovered perforations, unintended rips or tears from compression, and difficulties in maintaining proper placement over sensitive optics, which can cause localization errors.

Innovation Solution

A sterile drape assembly featuring a flexible and transparent surgical drape with LED units on the robotic arm, secured by drape attachment elements, and a belt assembly to maintain coverage over LEDs, while also providing a mechanism for proper drape installation indication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If surgical drape is perforated to allow connections between robotic arm and end effector, then mechanical and electrical connections can be made, but perforations may become uncovered requiring drape replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection capabilityVSAvoidsterility maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A rigid support structure with integrated connection interfaces serves as an intermediary between the robotic arm and end effector, allowing connections to be made through the drape without requiring perforations. The support structure provides a sterile barrier while enabling mechanical and electrical connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Connection interfaces are positioned in a third dimension through the use of a rigid support structure that extends from the robotic arm, allowing connections to be made at a different spatial level rather than through the drape surface, thus maintaining drape integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If surgical drape is compressed between robotic arm and end effector, then drape can be secured in place, but unintended rips or tears may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrape positioningVSAvoiddrape integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

A rigid support structure acts as a mediator between the robotic arm and end effector, providing a stable mounting surface for the drape without requiring compression that could cause tears. The support structure maintains drape position through its structural rigidity rather than compressive force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The drape is designed as a flexible thin film that can conform to the robotic arm and support structure without requiring high compression forces, reducing the risk of tears while maintaining secure positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Shape

If surgical drape is made thin and flexible, then drape can conform to robotic arm shape, but drape may not stay in place during movement

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconformabilityVSAvoidposition stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A rigid support structure serves as an intermediary framework that provides attachment points for the flexible drape, enabling the drape to conform to the robotic arm shape while the support structure maintains its position during movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The drape is pre-positioned and secured to the rigid support structure before the robotic arm moves, ensuring proper placement is established in advance. The support structure is designed to maintain drape position throughout the range of motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If drape is placed over sensitive optics, then localization components can be sterilized, but improper placement can cause localization errors

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesterilityVSAvoidlocalization accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A rigid support structure with integrated optical windows or openings serves as an intermediary, allowing the drape to cover the optics for sterility while maintaining proper alignment and positioning to prevent localization errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Visual indicators or alignment markers are incorporated into the drape or support structure to provide positive indication of proper placement over the optics, ensuring correct positioning for accurate localization while maintaining sterility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250152289A1Sterile Drape Assembly For Surgical Robot

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 MAKO SURGICAL CORP

AI summary

A sterile drape assembly for use with a robotic arm. The robotic arm includes a plurality of links and a plurality of motorized joints for moving the plurality of links. The robotic arm supports an end effector on a distal end of the robotic arm. A plurality of light emitting diode (LED) units are located on a surface of at least one of the links of the robotic arm. Each of the LED units projects from the surface and includes an attachment interface. The sterile drape assembly includes a flexible and substantially transparent surgical drape to be disposed over the robotic arm and the LED units. Drape attachment elements couple to the attachment interfaces of the LED units to secure portions of the surgical drape to the LED units such that the secured portions of the surgical drape cover the LED units.