Sterile Latch Adapter for Teleoperated Surgical Instrument Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Teleoperated surgical systems face challenges in maintaining a sterile environment due to the inability to sterilize motors, sensors, and electrical connections, and the need for frequent instrument exchanges, which complicates the attachment and detachment of surgical instruments while preventing contamination.
Innovation Solution
A sterile instrument adapter with a latch mechanism that securely attaches and detaches surgical instruments from teleoperated actuators, ensuring a sterile coupling point and allowing for quick and reliable instrument changes without compromising sterility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If teleoperated actuators with motors, sensors, and electrical connections are used to control surgical instruments, then control precision and automation are improved, but the ability to maintain sterile environment deteriorates because these components cannot be sterilized using conventional methods
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two distinct segments: a sterile disposable instrument unit and a non-sterile reusable actuator unit. The instrument with its shaft, end effector, and proximal control mechanism can be sterilized independently, while the actuator with motors and sensors remains outside the sterile field. This segmentation allows each component to be treated according to its sterilization requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
A sterile adapter or sterile drape acts as an intermediary barrier between the non-sterile actuator and the sterile instrument. This intermediary maintains the sterile boundary while transmitting mechanical forces and motions from the actuator to the instrument, allowing teleoperated control without direct contact between sterile and non-sterile components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple surgical instruments are frequently attached and detached from the same instrument holder during surgery, then instrument versatility is improved, but the complexity of maintaining sterile environment and preventing contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instruments are pre-packaged in sterile containers with sterile adapters already attached. Before surgery, the sterile instrument units are prepared and sterilized in advance. During surgery, only simple attachment and detachment actions are required without complex sterilization procedures, as the sterile barrier is already in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument units with proximal control mechanisms and adapters are designed as disposable sterile components. After a single use, they are discarded rather than re-sterilized. This eliminates the complexity of maintaining sterility across multiple uses and allows unlimited instrument exchanges without contamination risks.
3Ease of operation
If the proximal control mechanism is made detachable from the elongate tube to allow instrument changes, then ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of maintaining continuous sterile barrier deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The proximal control mechanism is nested within the sterile adapter or sterile drape, which itself is attached to the instrument shaft. This nested arrangement ensures that the control mechanism remains enclosed within the sterile boundary during attachment and detachment operations, maintaining continuous sterile protection while allowing instrument changes.
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 solution effectively maintains a sterile environment by facilitating easy and reliable attachment and detachment of surgical instruments, reducing contamination risks and improving surgical efficiency during procedures.
Implementation Method 1
A connecting member (425) flexibly connects the carriage latch arm (410) and the instrument latch arm (405) to a remainder of the latch plate (400)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A
Figure 3B
AI summary
An instrument sterile adapter (310) couples a surgical instrument (120) and an instrument carriage (130). The instrument sterile adapter (310) includes an instrument plate (430) that provides a first surface to receive the surgical instrument (120) and a latch plate (400) joined to the instrument plate (430). The latch plate (400) includes a second surface to receive the instrument carriage (130) and latch structures. Each latch structure has a carriage latch arm (410) that extends away from the second surface of the latch plate (400) and an instrument latch arm (405) joined to the carriage latch arm (410). The instrument latch arm (405) extends through the instrument plate (430) and away from the first surface of the instrument plate (430). A connecting member (425) flexibly connects the carriage latch arm (410) and the instrument latch arm (405) to a remainder of the latch plate (400). The connecting member (425) may be perpendicular to the latch arms (405). The latch arms (405) may engage fixed locking surfaces in the instrument carriage (130) and the surgical instrument (120).