Modular force sensor
First Claim
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1. A minimally invasive surgical instrument comprising:
- a shaft;
a surgical tool at a distal end of the minimally invasive surgical instrument;
a wrist joint coupling the surgical tool to the shaft; and
a force sensor apparatus positioned at a distal portion of the minimally invasive surgical instrument proximal to the wrist joint,wherein the force sensor apparatus comprises a plurality of strain gauges positioned on a distal end of the shaft proximal to the wrist joint, andwherein an outer diameter of the distal end of the shaft is less than or equal to an outer diameter of the shaft proximal to the distal end.
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Abstract
A modular force sensor apparatus, method, and system are provided to improve force and torque sensing and feedback to the surgeon performing a telerobotic surgery. In one embodiment, a modular force sensor includes a tube portion including a plurality of strain gauges, a proximal tube portion for operably coupling to a shaft of a surgical instrument that may be operably coupled to a manipulator arm of a robotic surgical system, and a distal tube portion for proximally coupling to a wrist joint coupled to an end portion.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A minimally invasive surgical instrument comprising:
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a shaft; a surgical tool at a distal end of the minimally invasive surgical instrument; a wrist joint coupling the surgical tool to the shaft; and a force sensor apparatus positioned at a distal portion of the minimally invasive surgical instrument proximal to the wrist joint, wherein the force sensor apparatus comprises a plurality of strain gauges positioned on a distal end of the shaft proximal to the wrist joint, and wherein an outer diameter of the distal end of the shaft is less than or equal to an outer diameter of the shaft proximal to the distal end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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coupling a wrist joint to a distal end of a shaft of a minimally invasive surgical instrument, wherein the shaft has an outer diameter proximal to the distal end, and wherein an outer diameter of the distal end of the shaft is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the shaft proximal to the distal end; coupling an end portion of the minimally invasive surgical instrument to the wrist joint; and positioning a plurality of force sensors on the distal end of the shaft proximal to the wrist joint. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification