Mechanisms for positioning and/or holding surgical instruments and performing other functions, and methods of manufacture and use thereof
AssigneeCareFusion 2200, Inc.
InventorMark Doyle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A positioning system is provided for use in remotely-controlled surgical procedures. Also provided are methods of manufacture and use of such a positioning system. The positioning system may hold an instrument, and may provide multiple degrees of freedom of movement to the instrument. The positioning system may be coupled to a control unit, such that manipulation of the control unit results in movement of the positioning mechanism, thereby eliminating the need to manually hold and position the instrument. According to some aspects, the positioning system may be hydraulically actuated.
Claims29
A positioning system for assisting with remotely-controlled surgical procedures, comprising:
- a control unit comprising an input receiver capable of receiving positioning input, and an arresting feature having a first, locked state and a second, unlocked state;
- a release mechanism;
- a positioning unit comprising at least one force transmitting element for translating the positioning input from the input receiver into a corresponding positioning output motion, wherein the force transmitting element comprises at least one push/pull element at least partially contained within a track shaped housing, wherein the track shaped housing has a first end, a second end, and one open side at least partially extending from the first end to the second end of the track shaped housing, wherein the push/pull element travels along at least a first direction toward at least one of the first end or the second end of the housing, wherein the push/pull element is at least partially exposed on the open side of the track shaped housing;
- and
- an end effector,
- wherein the end effector is moved to a position designated by the positioning input received by the input receiver of the control unit, as translated by the at least one force transmitting element of the positioning unit,
- wherein engagement of the release mechanism releases the arresting feature to the second, unlocked state, and
- wherein the arresting feature is configured to regulate communication between the control unit and the positioning unit by interrupting the flow of a hydraulic fluid between a piston in the control unit and a piston in the positioning unit.
A method for assisting with remotely-controlled surgical procedures, the method comprising:
- providing input to a control unit via an input receiver,
- wherein the control unit comprises an arresting feature having a first, locked state and a second, unlocked state, and a release mechanism, wherein engagement of the release mechanism releases the arresting feature to the second, unlocked state,
- wherein the arresting feature is configured to regulate communication between the control unit and the positioning unit by interrupting the flow of a hydraulic fluid between a piston in the control unit and a piston in the positioning unit;
- translating the input from the input receiver into a corresponding output motion in the positioning unit via at least one force transmitting element, wherein the force transmitting element comprises at least one push/pull element at least partially contained within a track shaped housing, wherein the track shaped housing has a first end, a second end, and one open side at least partially extending from the first end to the second end of the track shaped housing, wherein the push/pull element travels along at least a first direction towards at least one of the first end or the second end of the housing, wherein the push pull element is at least partially exposed on the open side of the track shaped housing;
- and
- moving an end effector in accordance with the output motion,
- wherein the end effector is moved to a position designated by the input received by the input receiver of the control unit, as translated by the at least one force transmitting element of the positioning unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.