Robotic Surgical Arm Mating Elements for Electrical Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic surgical systems face challenges in providing true force feedback to surgeons and efficiently controlling multiple surgical instruments simultaneously, leading to difficulties in synchronizing movements during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system with an electromechanical arm and mating elements that enable mechanical and electrical coupling, allowing for secure attachment to a surgical table and efficient power transmission, along with a controller for instrument control and user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If robotic systems are used to assist in MIS procedures, then more intuitive hand movements and natural eye-hand axis are achieved, but true force feedback to the surgeon becomes difficult and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the force feedback function from the robotic system by using a separate tactile feedback device that the surgeon holds manually. This allows the robotic arm to perform surgical tasks without requiring complex integrated force feedback mechanisms, thereby maintaining intuitive control while avoiding the complexity and cost of true force feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a tactile feedback device as an intermediary between the surgeon and the robotic system. This mediator provides haptic feedback to the surgeon through direct contact, allowing the surgeon to sense tissue properties and apply force manually while the robotic arm executes precise movements, thus achieving force feedback without complex robotic integration.
2Device complexity
If robotic systems traditionally control only two surgical instruments, then system complexity is reduced, but other surgical instruments must be manually controlled by other medical personnel which creates synchronization difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the robotic system universal by enabling it to control multiple surgical instruments simultaneously through a single surgeon interface. The robotic arms can be configured to hold and control different surgical tools, allowing one surgeon to coordinate all instrument movements and synchronize their actions, thereby eliminating the need for multiple personnel and improving coordination.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple surgical instruments are controlled by separately controlled instruments, then each instrument can be controlled independently, but communication and synchronization between surgeon and other medical personnel becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control of multiple surgical instruments under a single robotic system controlled by one surgeon. This consolidation allows the surgeon to maintain awareness of all instrument positions and actions, eliminating communication gaps and coordination issues that arise when multiple personnel control separate instruments independently.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for a surgical system are provided that allow an electromechanical surgical arm to be coupled at a location adjacent to a patient, such as a surgical table. A first mating element can be formed on a support member and it can be in electrical communication with a power source and a controller, and a second mating element can be formed on the electromechanical arm. The first and second mating elements can each have a respective electrical contact, and they can be configured such that mechanical coupling between the first and second mating element causes electrical communication to be established between the first and second electrical contacts and thus between the electromechanical arm and the power source and the controller. The mating elements can include tolerance elements that allow for some discrepancies between the mating elements while still providing a desired mechanical and electrical connection between the mating elements.