Modular Tool With Signal Feedback

• US 20100016855A1
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Ullrich, Christopher J., DeGheest, Anne, Ramstein, Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 8,834,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/49
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/225 Connectors or couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags

Abstract

Implementations of modular tools and methods of operating modular tools are described in the present disclosure. A modular tool according to one of several possible embodiments comprises a handle portion and a distal portion. The handle portion is configured to be manipulated by a user. The distal portion is configured to be attached to the handle portion, but is further configured to be removable from the handle portion by the user. Manipulation of the handle portion causes movement of one or more components of the distal portion. The distal portion is further configured to sense one or more parameters and transmit the sensed parameters to the handle portion.

Claims

1. A modular tool comprising:

a handle portion configured to be manipulated by a user; and

a distal portion configured to be attached to the handle portion, the distal portion further configured to be removable from the handle portion by the user;

wherein manipulation of the handle portion causes movement of one or more components of the distal portion; and

wherein the distal portion is further configured to sense one or more physical properties and to transmit the sensed physical properties to the handle portion.

2. The modular tool of claim 1, further comprising an interface portion positioned between the handle portion and the distal portion, the interface portion enabling the user to attach different types of handle portions with different types of distal portions.

3. The modular tool of claim 2, wherein the interface portion is configured to translate mechanical forces between the handle portion and the distal portion.

4. The modular tool of claim 2, wherein the interface portion is configured to communicate electrical signals between the handle portion and the distal portion.

5. The modular tool of claim 4, wherein the handle portion is configured to supply a relatively small voltage to the distal portion to power one or more sensors of the distal portion that are configured to sense the one or more physical properties.

6. The modular tool of claim 4, wherein the handle portion is configured to supply a relatively high voltage to the distal portion.

7. The modular tool of claim 6, wherein the distal portion is configured to use the high voltage for cauterization.

8. The modular tool of claim 1, wherein the modular tool is a modular laparoscopic surgical tool.

9. The modular tool of claim 1, wherein the handle portion comprises a wireless transmission device for wirelessly communicating the sensed parameters to a remote device.

10. The modular tool of claim 8, wherein the handle portion is reusable and the distal portion is disposable, and wherein the distal portion can be removed from the handle portion after use and discarded.

11. The modular tool of claim 1, wherein the handle portion comprises a haptic actuator configured to invoke a haptic effect on the user in response to the signals transmitted from the distal portion.

12. The modular tool of claim 1, wherein the handle portion comprises a display device configured to display a value of the one or more sensed parameters.

13. An interface mechanism comprising:

a substrate;

means for latching the substrate to a handle portion of a modular tool;

means for latching the substrate to a distal portion of the modular tool;

means for conducting electrical signals from the distal portion to the handle portion.

14. The interface mechanism of claim 13, further comprising a channel through which a mechanical connection between the handle portion and the distal portion can be made, wherein movement of one or more components of the handle portion causes movement of one or more components of the distal portion via the mechanical connection.

15. The interface mechanism of claim 14, further comprising a shaft sensor configured to detect the presence of a shaft of the distal portion when the shaft is inserted in the channel.

16. The interface mechanism of claim 14, further comprising a layer of insulating material positioned between the substrate and the channel, wherein the insulating material is configured to minimize electromagnetic interference from high electrical power flowing through the channel.

17. The interface mechanism of claim 13, wherein the means for conducting electrical signals comprises a pair of electrical conductors embedded in the substrate and running the length of the interface mechanism.

18. The interface mechanism of claim 13, further comprising means for supplying power from the handle portion to the distal portion.

19. The interface mechanism of claim 18, wherein the means for supplying power comprises a pair of electrical conductors embedded in the substrate and running the length of the interface mechanism.

20. The interface mechanism of claim 13, wherein the means for latching the substrate to the handle portion is further configured to latch the substrate to a handle portion of a modular laparoscopic hand tool, and the means for latching the substrate to the distal portion is further configured to latch the substrate to a distal portion of the modular laparoscopic hand tool.

21. A method comprising:

providing a plurality of tool portions configured to be assembled into a modular tool comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the modular tool configured to be physically manipulated by a user;

in response to physical manipulation of the first portion of the modular tool, translating a mechanical force to the second portion of the modular tool;

sensing one or more parameters at the second portion of the modular tool; and

electrically transmitting the one or more sensed parameters to the first portion of the modular tool.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing an interface portion configured to be assembled between the first portion and second portion to form the modular tool.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing a plurality of first portions and a plurality of second portions, wherein a first portion selected from the plurality of first portions is configured to be assembled with a second portion selected from the plurality of second portions.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising displaying a value of the one or more sensed parameters on a display device attached to the first portion.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising actuating a haptic effect associated with the first portion in response to the one or more sensed parameters.