Surgical Robot Arm Mounting with Manual Latch
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical robotic systems are bulky, inflexible, and difficult to reconfigure, limiting their ability to perform a wide range of surgical procedures due to restricted arm movement and space constraints in operating theaters.
Innovation Solution
A robotic system with at least six degrees of freedom, featuring a robot arm with a manually operable latching mechanism that allows easy attachment and detachment from multiple mounting structures, including ceiling, wall, and mobile cart attachments, enabling flexible reconfiguration and positioning around the operating site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single-based robot with multiple arms is used, then the system can perform multiple surgical procedures, but the system becomes bulky and difficult to move into place in the operating theatre
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate mobile bases, each supporting one or more robot arms. This segmentation allows each base to be independently moved and positioned, eliminating the bulkiness of a single large base while maintaining the ability to perform multiple surgical procedures with multiple arms.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot bases are designed to be mobile rather than fixed, allowing them to be dynamically repositioned according to surgical needs. The bases can be moved on wheels or tracks within the operating theatre, providing flexibility in positioning without requiring permanent installation.
2Device complexity
If arms stem from a single base, then the system structure is simplified, but the range of possible spatial relationships between arms is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses separate bases for each arm, allowing independent positioning of each arm relative to the patient. This segmentation enables a wider range of spatial relationships and arm configurations without increasing the complexity of a single base structure.
Solution Approach 2:
By distributing arms across multiple separate bases positioned at different locations and heights, the system creates additional spatial dimensions for arm movement and positioning, enabling more versatile surgical approaches from various directions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate bases for each arm are used, then the arms can be positioned more flexibly, but the bases become smaller and more difficult to stabilize
Solution Approach 1:
Each base is designed as a compact, self-contained unit that can be independently positioned and stabilized. The modular design allows each base to be optimally sized for stability while maintaining flexibility, and multiple bases can be distributed to provide overall system stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bases are designed to interface with the operating theatre environment through various mounting options (wheels, tracks, or fixed mounts), allowing them to transition between mobile and stable states as needed for different surgical procedures.
4Adaptability or versatility
If arms are fixed to ceiling or walls, then the arms can approach the operating table from different directions, but the range of movement is still restricted and cannot be easily reconfigured
Solution Approach 1:
The bases are designed to be dynamically repositionable rather than fixed, allowing them to be moved between different locations and orientations. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to different surgical procedures and approach directions without requiring permanent installation or complex reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical robotic system comprising: a surgical robot arm (7, 8, 9) having at least six degrees of freedom, the arm having a distal end for attachment to a surgical tool (5) and a proximal end; and a mounting structure (10, 11, 12) configured to mate to the proximal end of the arm for holding the proximal end of the arm spatially fixed, the mounting structure comprising an electrical connection for powering the surgical robot arm; wherein the system comprises a manually operable latching mechanism (6) whereby the arm can be attached to and released from the mounting structure.