Surgical Tool Retainer with Latchless Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
In surgical environments, the risk of contamination transfer from patients to surgeons persists due to the need to physically handle and swap multiple surgical tools during procedures, despite the use of disposable tools and sterilization practices.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device equipped with a multi-axis manipulator and tool head latchless interface that allows for contactless mounting and dismounting of tools using a robotic arm and optical tracking, eliminating direct contact with the tools to reduce contamination risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the surgeon or medical personnel manually handles and swaps surgical tools, then the operation can be performed with flexibility and control, but the risk of contamination transfer from patient to surgeon increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical device performs tool swapping autonomously without requiring manual handling by the surgeon. The device includes a tool holder that can automatically release and replace surgical tools, enabling the system to serve itself in the tool changing process and eliminating the contamination risk associated with manual handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical handling of tools with an automated mechanical system. The tool holder incorporates an actuator that uses mechanical forces (such as magnetic attraction or physical engagement mechanisms) to grasp, release, and replace tools automatically, substituting the surgeon's hand operations with a controlled mechanical system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple surgical tools are swapped during a procedure, then different surgical operations can be performed, but the frequency of contamination transfer opportunities increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical device is designed with a universal tool holder that can accommodate and swap multiple different types of surgical tools during a single procedure. This multi-functional capability allows the system to perform various surgical operations (cutting, removing, suturing, etc.) while maintaining a closed system that prevents contamination regardless of how many tool changes occur.
3Reliability
If proper sterilization is carried out between tool changes, then contamination risk can be reduced, but the time required for tool swapping and sterilization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated tool holder enables continuous tool swapping without interruption to the surgical procedure. The actuator can release and replace tools in a seamless sequence, maintaining the continuity of the surgical operation while eliminating the need for time-consuming sterilization steps between changes, as the automated system maintains sterility through its closed design.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical device for retaining a tool, the surgical device comprises a multi-axis manipulator configured to generate relative movement between a moving end and a stationary end thereof; a housing fixed to the stationary end of the manipulator; a motor configured to rotate the tool by a rotating interface when the tool is retained to the rotating interface; an adaptor connected to the manipulator and in orientational fixation to the moving end of the manipulator, the adaptor being configured to move with the moving end, and the adaptor comprises a tool stopper disposed therein, wherein the tool stopper is configured to catch the tool if the tool is dropped from the rotating interface; a tool head latchless interface exposed to a channel of the adaptor and configured to provide attraction force within the channel for retaining the tool to the rotating interface.