Surgical Table-Gantry Interface for Coordinated Robotic Repositioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surgical robots and robotic systems are not coordinated with surgical tables, making coordinated movement between them difficult, which limits the operational area that can be used by the surgical table and the surgical robotic system.

Innovation Solution

An interface that moveably interconnects a surgical table and a gantry supporting a surgical robotic system, allowing the surgical table and patient to be positioned and repositioned relative to the gantry in a cranial-caudal direction, facilitating coordinated movement and increased operational area for the surgical robotic system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional surgical robots and surgical tables are used as separate independent systems, then each system can be operated independently, but coordinated movement between them becomes very difficult and the operational area is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordinated movement capabilityVSAvoidsystem integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the surgical table and gantry into a single integrated system where the table is coupled to the gantry, allowing coordinated movement between the table and robotic system. This integration enables the table to move relative to the gantry in multiple directions (cranial-caudal, lateral, longitudinal) while maintaining system coordination, directly resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Area of moving object

If the surgical table and gantry are integrated with moveable interface, then the operational area is increased, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational areaVSAvoidinterface structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic interface between the surgical table and gantry that allows controlled movement in multiple directions. The interface includes actuators and control mechanisms that enable the table to move relative to the gantry dynamically, expanding the operational area while managing complexity through coordinated control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated system is segmented into distinct movable components (table, gantry, interface mechanisms) that can move independently yet remain coordinated. This segmentation allows each component to contribute to the expanded operational area while the overall system manages complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4543391B1Interface moveably interconnecting surgical table and gantry
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC
  • EP4543391B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4543391B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4543391B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

An interface for moveably interconnecting a surgical table with a stationary gantry supporting a surgical robotic system is provided. The interface includes a collar portion, an actuator portion, and a locking portion. The collar portion is attached relative to a longitudinal cross-member of the surgical table via receipt of a portion of the longitudinal cross-member through the collar portion. The actuator portion is one of attached to the collar portion and attached to and/or supported by the gantry, and includes gearing operatively engaged to gearing attached to the longitudinal cross member. The locking portion is attached to and/or supported relative to the gantry, and includes a shoulder portion configured to contact an exterior surface of the collar portion, and at least one engagement portion moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. After the exterior surface is contacted to the shoulder portion, the locking portion can be moved from the disengaged position to the engaged position to maintain the position of the collar portion relative to the stationary gantry. And, after the collar portion is maintained in position relative to the stationary gantry, actuation of the actuator portion drives interaction of the gearing that moves portions of cross member into and out of the collar portion in a first linear direction and a second linear direction.