Multifunctional operational component for robotic devices

• US 9,179,981 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
• Inventors: Farritor, Shane M., Lehman, Amy, Rentschler, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Downey, John R
• Application Number:
  US14/202,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00283 with a device releasably connected to an inner wall of the abdomen during surgery, e.g. an illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to modular medical devices, including various devices with detachable modular components and various devices with pivotally attached modular components. Additional embodiments relate to procedures in which various of the devices are used cooperatively. Certain embodiments of the medical devices are robotic in vivo devices.

Claims

1. A modular medical device system, the system comprising:

(a) a first modular component configured to be disposed inside a cavity of a patient, the first modular component comprising;

(i) a first body;

(ii) a first arm operably coupled with the first body;

(iii) a first end effector operably coupled with the first arm;

(iv) at least one actuator disposed within the first body or the first arm, wherein the at least one actuator is configured to actuate the first arm; and

(v) at least one first coupling component associated with the first body;

(b) a second modular component configured to be disposed inside a cavity of a patient, the second modular component comprising;

(i) a second body;

(ii) a second arm operably coupled with the second body;

(iii) a second end effector operably coupled with the second arm;

(iv) at least one actuator disposed within the second body or the second arm, wherein the at least one actuator is configured to actuate the second arm; and

(v) at least one second coupling component associated with the second body, the at least one second coupling component configured to be coupleable with the at least one first coupling component; and

(c) a third modular component positioned between the first and second modular components, the third modular component comprising;

(i) a third body; and

(ii) at least one third coupling component associated with the third body, the at least one third coupling component configured to be coupleable with the at least one first coupling component and the at least one second coupling component.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the third modular component further comprises a first imaging component operably coupled to the third body.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the third body comprises a lighting component.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an external controller configured to be positioned outside the cavity of the patient, the external controller being operably coupled to at least one of the first, second, and third modular components via a connection component.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the connection component comprises a lockable tube.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the external controller comprises an image display component operably coupled to the first imaging component via the connection component.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second bodies are coupled to the third body such that a combination body is formed, wherein the first arm is coupled to the first body at a first end of the combination body and the second arm is coupled to the second body at a second end of the combination body.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second arms has four degrees of freedom.