Robotic Surgical End Effector Manual Thumb-Wheel Actuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic surgical instruments require manual activation for cleaning and sterilization, which complicates their design and manufacturing, and existing solutions do not efficiently integrate with robotic surgical systems for seamless operation.
Innovation Solution
A robotic surgical instrument with a housing, a shaft, and an end effector assembly, featuring a spring compression assembly and a thumb wheel for manual actuation, which integrates with a robotic surgical system for automated operation while allowing manual activation for cleaning and sterilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If robotic surgical instruments are designed with manual activation capabilities for cleaning and sterilization, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is divided into modular components including a reusable capital equipment portion (console and robotic arm) and disposable surgical instruments. This segmentation allows the complex manual activation mechanisms to be contained within disposable units, simplifying the reusable portion while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A sterile barrier acts as an intermediary between the reusable capital equipment and the surgical site. This barrier enables manual activation and cleaning operations without compromising the sterility of the reusable components, resolving the conflict between ease of operation and device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If manual activation mechanisms are integrated into robotic surgical instruments, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable surgical instruments that can be manually activated for cleaning and sterilization. By making the instrument disposable, the manufacturing complexity of integrating manual activation mechanisms is reduced, as these mechanisms only need to function reliably for a single use rather than being designed for repeated sterilization cycles.
3Loss of substance
If reusable surgical instruments are used, then loss of substance is reduced, but reliability of maintaining sterility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The reusable capital equipment (console and robotic arm) is extracted and separated from the disposable surgical instruments. This allows the reusable portion to be protected and maintained in a controlled environment, ensuring its sterility and reliability while reducing the need for repeated sterilization of the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
A sterile barrier serves as an intermediary that protects the reusable capital equipment from contamination. This barrier allows the reusable instruments to be used multiple times while maintaining sterility, resolving the contradiction between reusability and reliable sterility maintenance.
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 enables seamless integration with robotic surgical systems, allowing for both automated and manual actuation, while ensuring efficient cleaning and sterilization processes.
Implementation Method 1
A spring compression assembly is supported within the housing, the spring compression assembly including: a proximal hub configured to secure a proximal end of the drive rod disposed therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic surgical instrument includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom. A spring compression assembly is supported within the housing and includes: a proximal hub configured to secure a drive rod disposed therethrough, the proximal hub including teeth; a distal hub spaced from the proximal hub and including teeth; and a compression spring mounted between the proximal and distal hubs. A drive gear includes a proximal portion extending therefrom having threads disposed thereabout configured to engage the teeth of the proximal and distal hubs such that rotation thereof translates the hubs relative to one another and actuates the end effector assembly. A thumb wheel is included that has a portion exposed outside the housing for external manipulation thereof. The thumb wheel is selectively positionable between a disengaged position spaced relative to the drive gear and an engaged position to matingly engage the drive gear.