Sterile Adapter Coupling for Teleoperated Surgical Instrument Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in minimally invasive surgery using teleoperated surgical instruments is maintaining a sterile environment while attaching and detaching instruments from teleoperated actuators, as conventional sterilization methods damage the necessary motors, sensors, and electrical connections, and the complex connections required for actuator forces, electrical signals, and data transmission complicate the attachment process.
Innovation Solution
An instrument sterile adapter (ISA) with a convex curved surface, bullet portion, locating pin or slot, and latch arms is used to securely couple surgical instruments to an instrument carriage, ensuring a sterile interface and easy attachment/detachment while preventing contamination of the teleoperated actuator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sterilization methods (steam, heat, pressure, chemicals) are used on teleoperated actuators, then complete sterilization is achieved, but the motors, sensors, encoders and electrical connections are damaged or destroyed
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two distinct segments: a sterilizable surgical instrument with sterile adapter that can withstand autoclaving, and a non-sterile teleoperated actuator containing sensitive electronics. The sterile adapter acts as a barrier interface between these segments, allowing the sterile side to be fully sterilized while protecting the actuator side from sterilization damage.
Solution Approach 2:
A sterile adapter or sterile barrier is introduced as an intermediary component between the surgical instrument and the teleoperated actuator. This intermediary maintains the sterile field while allowing mechanical and electrical connections to pass through, protecting the actuator from direct exposure to sterilization processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple connections are made for actuator forces, electrical signals and data between surgical instrument and teleoperated actuator, then complete control functionality is achieved, but the attachment process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate connections for actuator forces, electrical signals, and data transmission are merged into a single integrated interface. The sterile adapter incorporates all these connection types in one unified coupling mechanism, allowing simultaneous establishment of mechanical drive connections, electrical contacts, and data pathways through a single attachment action.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterile adapter interface is designed as a universal multi-functional component that simultaneously handles mechanical force transmission, electrical power and signal connections, and data communication. This single interface performs multiple functions that would otherwise require separate connection mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
An instrument sterile adapter for coupling a surgical instrument and an instrument carriage includes an adapter control surface that extends control features of a control surface of the instrument carriage and receives an instrument control surface of the surgical instrument. A curved surface extends from the adapter control surface. The curved surface receives a corresponding curved surface on the instrument control surface. A bullet portion on the curved surface may engage a bullet receiving feature in the corresponding curved surface on the instrument control surface. A locating pin or slot on the adapter control surface may engage a locating slot or pin on the instrument control surface. The instrument control surface may be supported by landing pads on the adapter control surface. Latch arms on the adapter control surface may engage latch receptacles on the instrument control surface.