Pivot point arm for a robotic system used to perform a surgical procedure

• US 9,011,415 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2013
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Sanchez, Dan, Black, Michael, Hammond, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): ROANE, AARON F
• Application Number:
  US14/145,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/32, 606/41, 128849-852
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/5025 with a counter-balancing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/506 using a parallelogram linkage, e.g. panthograph
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/28 Joint
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/41 Tool

Abstract

A pivot port that can provide a pivot point for a surgical instrument. The pivot port may be held in a stationary position by a support arm assembly that is attached to a table. The pivot port may include either an adapter or a ball joint that can support the surgical instrument. The pivot port allows the instrument to pivot relative to a patient.

Claims

1. A medical system comprising:

a medical instrument; and

a pivot port supporting the medical instrument, wherein the pivot port includes;

a pivot arm;

a ring having an inner annular ring lip;

a first link configured as a single connecting piece having pivotal ends;

an adapter that has an aperture and an outer annular flange, wherein the aperture is adapted to receive the surgical instrument, and wherein the outer annular flange rests on the inner annular ring lip of the ring so that the ring supports the adapter; and

first and second joints, wherein a proximal end of the first link is directly connected to the pivot arm by the first joint so that the proximal end of the first link is constrained to only rotatable at the first joint about a first axis of rotation that is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the pivot arm and a distal end of the first link is directly connected to only one outer side of the ring by the second joint so that the ring and the adapter are rotatable at the second joint about a second axis of rotation that is maintained by a shape of the first link to be approximately orthogonal to the first axis of rotation so as to allow the surgical instrument to pivot about said aperture when the pivot arm is locked in place and the instrument is received in the aperture.

2. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the first axis of rotation is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the pivot arm.

3. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the second axis of rotation is coincident with the diameter of the ring.

4. The medical system of claim 1, further comprising:

a robotic arm adapted to manipulate the surgical instrument, wherein the first link is freely rotatable at the first joint and the adapter is freely rotatable at the second joint while the surgical instrument is being manipulated by the robotic arm.

5. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the adapter is constrained to only be rotatable at the second joint about the second axis of rotation.

6. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the first and second axes of rotation intersect within the aperture of the adapter so that the intersection serves as a pivot point for the surgical instrument.

7. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the first link is bent at an approximately 45 degree angle relative to a middle segment of the first link and the distal end of the first link is bent at an approximately 135 degree angle relative to the middle segment of the first link.