Back to results
US 12,178,543 B2Granted
Surgical drape with integral EMI shielding
AssigneeAsensus Surgical US, Inc.
InventorMatthew David Marchese
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sterile drape positionable covering medical equipment, such as between a robotic manipulator and a sterile surgical instrument. The drape is formed of a flexible sterile material, with conductive ink printed on the flexible material. The drape provides both a sterile barrier and a shield against electrostatic discharge or electromagnetic interference.
Claims19
A surgical system comprising:
- a robotic manipulator having a non-sterile distal portion which includes an actuator assembly comprising a first arm and a second arm having opposed first and second faces defining an instrument-receiving portion between the first arm and the second arm, the actuator assembly further including;
- a first drive element extending from the first arm into the instrument-receiving portion and a first motor operable to advance the first drive element relative to the actuator assembly;
- a second drive element extending from the second arm into the instrument-receiving portion and a second motor operable to advance the second drive element relative to the actuator assembly, wherein the first and second motors are independently operable to independently advance the first and second drive element;
- a sterile drape removably positionable on the robotic manipulator to cover the instrument-receiving portion of the robotic manipulator, the sterile drape comprised of a sterile flexible drape material with conductive ink printed thereon;
- and
- an energizable surgical instrument having a body removably positionable within the instrument-receiving portion of the actuator assembly with the sterile drape positioned between the body of the surgical instrument and the first arm and the second arm such that advancement of the first and second drive elements advances corresponding input elements on the body, wherein the conductive ink forms Faraday shielding between the instrument-receiving portion of the robotic manipulator and the surgical instrument to shield components of the robotic manipulator from electrostatic discharge or electromagnetic interference from the energizable surgical instrument.
3 more elements
A method of using a surgical robotic system, comprising:
- providing a robotic manipulator including an actuator assembly comprising a first arm and a second arm having opposed first and second faces defining an instrument-receiving portion between the first arm and the second arm, the actuator assembly further including
- a first drive element extending from the first arm into the instrument-receiving portion and a first motor operable to advance the first drive element relative to the actuator assembly;
- a second drive element extending from the second arm into the instrument-receiving portion and a second motor operable to advance the second drive element relative to the actuator assembly, wherein the first and second motors are independently operable to independently advance the first and second drive element;
- providing a sterile drape comprised of a polymeric material incorporating conductive material to create Faraday shielding,
- positioning the sterile drape to cover the instrument-receiving portion of the actuator assembly;
- and
- mounting an energizable sterile surgical instrument between the first arm and the second arms of the actuator assembly of the robotic manipulator, with the sterile drape forming a sterile barrier between the instrument-receiving portion and the surgical instrument, and
- energizing the surgical instrument and treating a patient using the energized surgical instrument, wherein the sterile drape shields components of the robotic manipulator from electrostatic discharge or electromagnetic interference from the surgical instrument.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.