Systems and methods for automatically changing an end-effector on a surgical robot
AssigneeGlobus Medical, Inc.
InventorsNeil R. Crawford, Norbert Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods for automatically exchanging a first end-effector on a robot arm with a second end-effector housed in a docking station. The first end-effector has a clamp that either engages or disengages the robot arm based upon an application of force of the robot arm onto the end-effector. The clamp has a spring loaded clip that disengages the first end-effector to allow the robot arm to move away from the released first end-effector. The robot arm is configured to automatically move to a port of a docking station housing the desired second end-effector using magnetic coils on the robot arm and the docking station to guide the robot arm.
Claims20
A method of exchanging end-effectors on a robot arm of a surgical robot system, the method comprising:
- receiving an indication to detach a first end-effector that is attached to the robot arm and attach a second end-effector to the robot arm, wherein the robot arm comprises a first magnetic coil;
- automatically guiding the robot arm to a docking station;
- releasing the first end-effector from the robot arm and into the docking station;
- automatically moving the robot arm into proximity of a second coil associated with the second end-effector, wherein the first coil is concentric to the second coil;
- automatically moving the robot arm through the second coil;
- and
- automatically attaching the robot arm to the second end-effector.
A method of exchanging end-effectors on a robot arm of a surgical robot system, the method comprising:
- automatically guiding the robot arm to a docking station, the robot arm having a first magnetic coil and a first end-effector;
- releasing the first end-effector from the robot arm and into the docking station;
- automatically moving the robot arm into proximity of a second coil associated with the second end-effector, wherein the first coil is concentric to the second coil;
- automatically moving the robot arm through the second coil;
- and
- automatically attaching the robot arm to the second end-effector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.