Surgical Tool Manual Release Mechanism for Power Failure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical tools mounted on surgical robots face challenges when the power supply is interrupted, as the actuator stops functioning, making it difficult to continue or discontinue surgical operations, especially when the gripper is engaged with a patient's tissue.

Innovation Solution

A surgical tool with a treatment portion featuring movable parts, a slider for generating driving force through linear reciprocating motion, and a manual releasing tool that can be detachably mounted to the main body, allowing manual operation of the movable parts to continue or discontinue the surgical procedure even without power supply.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the surgical tool uses an actuator driven by air pressure or electric power to displace the movable part, then the surgical operation can be performed with precise control, but the surgical operation cannot be continued or discontinued when the power supply is stopped

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecise control of movable partVSAvoidcontinuity of surgical operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a manual releasing tool as an intermediary device that can be detachably mounted to the main body. This manual tool provides a mechanical means to directly displace the movable part without relying on the actuator, thereby serving as a backup when power supply is interrupted. The manual releasing tool engages with the slider mechanism to provide direct mechanical control over the movable part's position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameter of the movable part from purely actuator-driven (electrical/pneumatic) to include manual mechanical operation. By providing a dual-mode operation capability (powered mode and manual mode), the system can switch between different operating parameters depending on the power supply status, ensuring continuity of the surgical operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If the actuator is stopped due to power supply interruption, then energy consumption is reduced, but the movable part remains in its current state making it difficult to continue or discontinue the surgical operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidability to control movable part
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The manual releasing tool serves as a mechanical intermediary that directly interfaces with the slider mechanism controlling the movable part. When power is interrupted, this manual tool allows the operator to mechanically displace the movable part without requiring electrical or pneumatic energy, thus maintaining operational capability while accepting the power interruption condition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides self-service capability through the manual releasing tool, which enables the operator to directly manipulate the movable part's position without relying on the actuator system. The slider mechanism itself becomes the interface for manual operation, allowing the system to serve itself even when the powered actuator is non-functional.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables the user to manually control the surgical tool's movable parts, ensuring the surgical operation can be continued or stopped safely even when the power supply is interrupted, addressing the issue of actuator failure during critical surgical states.

Implementation Method 1

a slider that generates a driving force to displace the movable part, the slider generating the driving force through reciprocating motion along a linear direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReciprocating motion:

Data Source

PatentEP4104790B1Surgical tool
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 RIVERFIELD INC
  • EP4104790B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4104790B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4104790B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a surgical tool mounted to a surgical robot. The surgical tool includes a treatment portion used in surgical treatment, the treatment portion having a movable part that can be displaced; a slider that generates a driving force to displace the movable part, the slider generating the driving force through reciprocating motion along a linear direction; and a manual releasing tool for displacing the movable part, the manual releasing tool being detachably mountable to a main body at which the slider is accommodated.