Sterile interface for articulated surgical instruments
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Publication Number
US-12262880-B2
Publication Date
2025-04-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
A sterile interface for a surgical platform is provided, optionally to be used with a mechanical telemanipulator. The sterile interface is configured to allow for transmission of motion without dimensional inconsistencies between a non-sterile surgical platform and a sterile surgical instrument that are related to one another in a master-slave configuration. The sterile interface is configured to allow for multiple changes of sterile surgical instruments during a surgical procedure without contaminating the sterile field. The sterile interface allows for interchangeable sterile articulated surgical instruments to be attached to the surgical platform without coming into contact with non-sterile portions of the surgical platform.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a sterile interface for articulated surgical instruments in a mechanical telemanipulator master-slave system. A surgical platform including moving links is provided with a flexible sleeve to cover the moving links, and a rigid connector is attached to the surgical platform to couple mechanical transmission paths to a proximal hub of an articulated surgical instrument while maintaining sterility during a surgical procedure.
A key feature is the rigid connector being locked or attached such that the proximal hub and a shaft of the articulated surgical instrument are concentric with the rigid connector. The proximal hub is attached to the rigid connector without contacting non-sterile components of the surgical platform, and the flexible sleeve is disposed between concentric portions of the rigid connector to maintain sterility of the articulated surgical instrument.
The motion of the instrument is transmitted such that an end-effector of the articulated surgical instrument is actuated responsive to movement at the surgical platform to perform the surgical procedure while maintaining sterility. The rigid connector structure includes concentric rings and a core, and may include axis-asymmetric features or geometries that indicate a predefined axial insertion position.
Claims Coverage
The document provides three independent claims covering methods and a system for maintaining sterility while actuating an articulated surgical instrument via a mechanical telemanipulator-style master-slave configuration. Across the independent claims, the inventive features concentrate on locking or attaching a rigid connector with concentric alignment to a proximal hub and surgical platform, covering surgical-platform moving links using a flexible sleeve positioned to preserve sterility, and actuating an end-effector responsive to platform movement while maintaining sterility.
Concentric rigid connector interface for sterility maintenance
A method comprises locking a rigid connector to a surgical platform and locking the rigid connector to a proximal hub of an articulated surgical instrument such that the proximal hub and a shaft of the articulated surgical instrument are concentric with the rigid connector, and moving an end-effector responsive to movement at the surgical platform to perform a surgical procedure while maintaining sterility.
Flexible sleeve covering moving links disposed with rigid connector
A method covers moving links of the surgical platform with a flexible sleeve coupled to the rigid connector, and uses the flexible sleeve such that the flexible sleeve is disposed between first and second concentric portions of the rigid connector while maintaining sterility of the articulated surgical instrument during the surgical procedure.
Proximal hub attachment without contacting non-sterile components
The method includes attaching a proximal hub of an articulated surgical instrument to the rigid connector without contacting non-sterile components of the surgical platform, in combination with covering moving links of the surgical platform with the flexible sleeve and moving the end-effector responsive to movement at the surgical platform to perform the surgical procedure while maintaining sterility.
System with rigid connector, flexible sleeve, and concentric proximal hub coupling
A system includes a surgical platform including moving links; a rigid connector configured to be attached to the surgical platform; a flexible sleeve couplable to the rigid connector configured to cover the moving links; and an articulated surgical instrument with a proximal hub, an end-effector, and a shaft. The proximal hub is configured to be attached to the rigid connector such that the proximal hub and the shaft are concentric with the rigid connector, and the end-effector is actuated responsive to movement at the surgical platform to perform a surgical procedure while maintaining sterility during the surgical procedure.
Overall, claim coverage centers on maintaining sterility by coupling a sterile mechanical transmission path through a rigid connector with concentric alignment to the instrument proximal hub, while covering the surgical platform moving links with a flexible sleeve, and actuating the instrument end-effector responsive to platform motion to perform the surgical procedure while maintaining sterility.
Stated Advantages
Maintains sterility of the articulated surgical instrument during the surgical procedure.
Allows actuation of the end-effector responsive to movement at the surgical platform while maintaining sterility.
Attaches the proximal hub without contacting non-sterile components of the surgical platform.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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