Surgical Robot Interface Structure for Sterile Instrument Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical robotic systems face challenges in efficiently exchanging instruments during operations while maintaining a sterile environment, as the robot arm is not initially sterilized and exchanging instruments can compromise the sterile barrier.
Innovation Solution
An interface structure that allows for the detachable and interchangeable connection of surgical instruments to a surgical robot arm, featuring a drive transfer element that moves relative to a main body to enable drive transfer between the arm and the instrument, while obstructing fluid flow to maintain sterility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If instruments are exchanged mid-operation, then surgical efficiency is improved, but the sterile barrier may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A sterile adapter is introduced as an intermediary component between the non-sterile robot arm and the sterile surgical instrument. The adapter includes a sterile barrier that maintains the sterile field while allowing mechanical drive transfer, enabling instrument exchange without compromising sterility.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface structure is divided into separate sterile and non-sterile zones. The sterile adapter contains drive transfer elements that can move within the sterile zone while the robot arm remains in the non-sterile zone, allowing independent management of sterility and drive transfer functions.
2Loss of time
If instruments are exchanged quickly, then surgical time is reduced, but the complexity of maintaining sterility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile adapter is designed to automatically maintain the sterile barrier through its own structure. The sterile drape is attached to the adapter itself, creating a self-contained sterile unit that eliminates the need for complex external sterility management during instrument exchanges.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterile adapter and drape are pre-assembled as a complete sterile unit before the surgical procedure begins. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid instrument exchange during surgery without requiring complex sterility maintenance procedures at the time of exchange.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the robot arm is made sterilizable, then sterility is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sterility requirement is extracted from the robot arm and transferred to a separate sterile adapter component. This allows the robot arm to remain non-sterilizable while the sterile adapter, which directly contacts the surgical field, maintains sterility through simpler means.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterile adapter is designed as a disposable component that can be sterilized and discarded after use, eliminating the need to make the expensive robot arm sterilizable. This transfers the sterility function to a low-cost, single-use component.
Data Source
AI summary
An interface structure for detachably interfacing a surgical robot arm to a surgical instrument, the interface structure comprising a main body; and a drive transfer element comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being releasably engageable with a portion of the surgical robot arm and the second portion being releasably engageable with a portion of the surgical instrument; the drive transfer element being movable relative to the main body so as to enable transfer of drive between the surgical robot arm and the surgical instrument.