Stabilizer wheel assembly and methods of use

• US 10,569,794 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2018
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Norbert, Moulton, Timothy, Pelletier, James, Zhang, Kevin, Judson, Jared, Schmieta, Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): Gurari, Erez
• Application Number:
  US16/136,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20190016359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0528 Steering or braking devices for castor wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/00 Castors in general; Anti-clogging castorscastors for large containers B65D90/18
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0026 characterised by adaptations made to the object
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0042 Double or twin wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0089 acting on the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0092 actuated remotely, e.g. by cable or electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0038 the motor moving together with the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0084 the motor axle being vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/48 Tools
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/56 Computers; Screens
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2301/04 comprising a wheel pivotable about a substantially vertical axis, e.g. swivelling castors
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2301/0467 combined with means for braking the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/008 having more than two axes
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/022 folding down the body to the wheel carriage or by retracting projecting parts collapsible containers B65D, e.g. B65D7/24, B65D9/12, B65D11/18
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/10 characterised by supports specially adapted to objects of definite shape
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0043 One motor drives one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/049 : locking against movement by contacting the floor or a wall

Abstract

Included is a stabilizer wheel assembly that may assist in stabilizing a medical device during a medical procedure. A medical device may comprise a body; and a plurality of stabilizer wheel assemblies coupled to the body, wherein the stabilizer wheel assemblies each comprise a motor assembly and a stabilization leg, wherein the motor assembly is configured to drive the stabilization leg onto a contact surface to stabilize the body.

Claims

1. A method of stabilizing a medical robot system comprising the steps of:

providing a medical robot system comprising;

a body;

a computer processor disposed within the body;

a tool assembly attached to the body;

a display assembly attached to the body;

a base attached to the body; and

at least one stabilizer wheel assembly disposed on the base,

wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly comprises a motor and a stabilizer leg, and

wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly comprises a foot attached to an end of the corresponding stabilization leg opposite a nut,

receiving one or more commands from a platform interface to move each stabilizer leg by controlling each motor

wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a bumper.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps further include driving each stabilization leg into a contact surface until each stabilization leg exerts a predetermined force on the contact surface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a caster.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a stem, wherein the corresponding caster rotates three hundred and sixty degrees around each stem.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each motor is connected to a top of the corresponding stem.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the steps further include extending each stabilization leg through the corresponding caster to the contact surface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a motor cover that encloses each motor, a motor cap disposed on top of each motor, and a motor bracket that supports each motor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each foot increases the friction between the corresponding stabilization leg and a contact surface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a caster and a set screw is disposed on a side of the caster.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the steps further include securing each stabilizer wheel assembly into a corresponding channel to prevent the corresponding stabilization leg from rotating.

11. A method of stabilizing a medical robot comprising the steps of:

providing the medical robot comprising;

a body;

a stabilizer wheel assembly coupled to the body, wherein the stabilizer wheel assembly comprises a motor assembly and stabilization leg, wherein the motor assembly is configured to drive the stabilization leg onto a contact surface to stabilize the body; and

a computer processor disposed within the body,

wherein the stabilizer wheel assembly comprises a foot attached to an end of the corresponding stabilization leg opposite a nut

receiving one or more commands from a platform interface to move each stabilizer leg by controlling each motor

wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a bumper.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the steps further include driving the stabilization leg into the contact surface until the stabilization leg exerts a predetermined force on the contact surface.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a caster.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a stem, wherein the caster rotates three hundred and sixty degrees around the stem.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the motor assembly is connected to a top of the stem.

16. The method of claim 15, further includes the step of extending the stabilization leg through the caster to the contact surface.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the motor assembly further comprises a motor, a motor cover that encloses each motor, a motor cap disposed on top of each motor, and a motor bracket that supports each motor.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the stabilizer wheel assembly comprises a foot attached to an end of the stabilization leg opposite a nut.

19. A method of stabilizing a medical robot system comprising the steps of:

providing a medical robot system comprising;

a body;

a computer processor disposed within the body;

a tool assembly attached to the body;

a display assembly attached to the body;

a base attached to the body; and

at least one stabilizer wheel assembly disposed on the base,

wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly comprises a motor and a stabilizer leg, an

receiving one or more commands from a platform interface to move each stabilizer leg by controlling each motor

wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a bumper.