Robotic Surgical Driver Sleeve for Variable Screw Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic surgical systems have limited compatibility with instruments and implants of varied sizes, features, and configurations, which can result in suboptimal choices for specific patients based on their anatomy and clinical indications.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system is designed to include a driver with a distal end for engaging a surgical screw, an outer shaft with a threaded portion for engaging the screw's inside thread, an inner shaft for engaging the screw's drive feature, and a sleeve that fits within a robotic surgical device's end effector, allowing for a wide range of screw sizes and configurations to be used.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current robotic surgical systems use fixed-size end effectors, then the system structure remains simple, but compatibility with instruments and implants of varied sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested sleeve structure where multiple sleeves with different inside diameters are placed one inside another. The selected sleeve is inserted into the end effector, allowing the system to accommodate different screw head diameters while maintaining a compact overall structure. This nesting approach enables versatility without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static fixed-size end effector to a dynamic configuration where sleeves can be exchanged based on the specific surgical requirements. The ability to change sleeves during procedures allows the system to adapt to varied implant sizes, improving compatibility while keeping the base end effector structure relatively simple.
2Manufacturing precision
If a universal end effector design is used, then device complexity is reduced, but precision for specific patient anatomy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different sleeve sizes (first sleeve with first inside diameter, second sleeve with second inside diameter) to match specific screw head diameters. This allows the end effector to be precisely matched to the specific implant being used, ensuring surgical precision for each patient's unique anatomy while keeping the overall system design relatively simple through modular sleeves.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple end effectors are used for different implant sizes, then compatibility is improved, but system complexity and instrument selection complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal end effector that can perform multiple functions by accepting different sleeves. Instead of requiring separate end effectors for different implant sizes, the single end effector structure with interchangeable sleeves provides multi-functionality, improving compatibility while reducing the total number of components and simplifying instrument selection during surgery.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical system for placement of a surgical screw into a bone may include the surgical screw having a screw head having a screw head diameter, a first and second arm, and an inside thread, and a screw body having a drive feature and a threaded portion configured to engage the bone. The system may further include a driver having a distal end to engage the surgical screw, a proximal end, an outer shaft having a threaded portion to engage the inside thread, an inner shaft having a drive tip to engage the drive feature, and a sleeve to be received within an end effector of a robotic surgical device, the sleeve having an outside and inside diameter. The outside diameter may be greater than the screw head diameter, the inside diameter may be less than the screw head diameter, and the sleeve may receive the first and second arms.