Surgical robotic system with daisy chaining

Inventors

Hagn, UlrichNothhelfer, Alexander

Assignees

Covidien LP

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Publication Number

US-12472022-B2

Patent

Publication Date

2025-11-18

Expiration Date


Abstract

A surgical robotic system includes a first robotic arm, a second robotic arm, a control tower, and a surgeon console. The first robotic arm is engaged with a first movable cart. The second robotic arm is engaged with a second movable cart. The control tower is configured to control movement of the first robotic arm. The surgeon console is configured to provide instructions to the control tower. The control tower is electrically coupled to the surgeon console via a first cable. The surgeon console is electrically coupled to the first movable cart via a second cable.

Core Innovation

The disclosed invention is a surgical robotic system that includes a first robotic arm engaged with a first movable cart, a second robotic arm engaged with a second movable cart, a control tower configured to control movements of the first robotic arm and the second robotic arm, and a surgeon console configured to provide instructions to the control tower. The system uses electrical coupling arranged so the control tower is directly electrically coupled to the surgeon console via a first cable, the surgeon console is directly electrically coupled to the first movable cart via a second cable, and the control tower is directly electrically coupled to the second robotic arm via a third cable.

The cables are configured to transmit electrical current sufficient for supplying power for surgical procedures, and at least one of the first cable, the second cable, or the third cable is configured to transmit electrosurgical current. The electrical coupling includes a daisy chain arrangement, including an optional closed loop daisy chain arrangement for communication and/or power when a cable is damaged or disconnected.

In particular implementations described in the partial content, the control tower includes a power supply system with a power ingress module, an isolation transformer, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and a tower power supply chassis (TPSC). The described power supply system delivers regulated DC to the surgeon console and to the movable carts, with optional batteries on carts, and includes component placement around a surgical table as well as cable and power layouts.

Claims Coverage

The partial claims include three independent claims (clm-00001, clm-00013, clm-00016). Across these independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on a direct electrical coupling topology with daisy chain arrangements and electrosurgical-current-capable cables, with refinements including selective direct connections and closed-loop daisy-chain constraints.

Direct electrical coupling with selective direct connections

A surgical robotic system comprising a first robotic arm engaged with a first movable cart and a second robotic arm engaged with a second movable cart, with a control tower configured to control movements and a surgeon console configured to provide instructions, wherein the control tower is directly electrically coupled to the surgeon console via a first cable, the surgeon console is directly electrically coupled to the first movable cart via a second cable, and the control tower is directly electrically coupled to the second robotic arm via a third cable, with the control tower free from a direct electrical coupling with the first movable cart and the surgeon console free from a direct electrical coupling with the second movable cart.

Cables configured to supply surgical power and electrosurgical current

The first cable, the second cable, and the third cable are configured to transmit electrical current sufficient for supplying power for surgical procedures, and at least one of the first cable, the second cable or the third cable is configured to transmit electrosurgical current.

Daisy chain arrangement across movable carts with selective direct couplings

A surgical robotic system including a control tower, a surgeon console directly electrically coupled to the control tower, and a plurality of movable carts each having a robotic arm engaged therewith and each including a battery for supplying power, wherein each movable cart is electrically coupled to another movable cart in a daisy chain arrangement, wherein only a first movable cart is directly electrically coupled to the control tower via a cable configured to transmit electrosurgical current, and wherein only a second movable cart is directly electrically coupled to the surgeon console.

Closed-loop daisy chain connectivity among control tower, console, and carts

The system further includes a closed-loop daisy chain arrangement in which the control tower, surgeon console, and each movable cart are coupled to two other units.

Four-cable direct-coupling power supply method for electrosurgical current

A method of supplying power to a surgical robotic system comprising directly electrically coupling a surgeon console with a control tower using a first cable, directly electrically coupling a first movable cart with the surgeon console using a second cable, electrically coupling a second movable cart with the first movable cart using a third cable, and directly electrically coupling the second movable cart with the control tower using a fourth cable.

Each coupling cable configured to transmit electrosurgical current

Each of the first cable, the second cable, the third cable, and the fourth cable is configured to transmit electrosurgical current.

Closed-loop daisy-chain power coupling with exactly two direct couplings per unit

A closed-loop daisy chain arrangement in which each of the control tower, surgeon console, first movable cart, and second movable cart is directly coupled to exactly two other units.

Across the independent claims, the inventive subject matter is a surgical robotic power/electrical architecture defined by direct-cable couplings among the control tower, surgeon console, and selected movable carts, with at least one cable configured to transmit electrosurgical current. The claims also cover daisy chain arrangements of movable carts and, in refinements described for the independent-claim families, closed-loop daisy-chain constraints that define how many direct couplings each unit has.

Stated Advantages

Provides an emergency path of communication and/or power if a cable is damaged or disconnected.

Delivers power to the surgeon console and movable carts using a power supply system that delivers regulated DC.

Documented Applications

Using an endoscopic camera mechanically coupled to a robotic arm in the surgical robotic system.

Employing example electrosurgical forceps as part of the system’s electrosurgical current transmission capability.

Component placement around a surgical table with illustrated cable/power layouts (FIGS. 1, 5-7).

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