COMPLIANT MECHANISM FOR SIMULATING ENDOSCOPY
The present disclosure discloses a compliant mechanism (100) for application of radial resistance on a simulation endoscope (101). The mechanism (100) comprises a support plate (102), a ring member (103) rotatably mounted on the support plate (102) and a plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104) configured in an inner circumference of the ring member (203). The plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104) comprises a first beam (104a) connectable to the ring member (203) and a second beam (104b) connectable to the support plate (102). the circular motion of at least one of the support plate (102) and the ring member (103). relative to each other, moves the plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104) radially inward and radially outward to selectively apply radial resistance on the simulation endoscope (301). The complaint mechanism (100) of present disclosure are joint less mechanisms which are free from backlash and friction in joints.
The present disclosure generally relates to a field of bio-medical devices. Particularly but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to endoscopy simulation device. Further embodiments of the disclosure disclose a compliant mechanism for application of radial resistance on a simulation endoscope during endoscopy simulation.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREEndoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure where a flexible tube is inserted through the digestive tract of a subject for medical examination, and also for surgical interventions. Medical practitioners, practicing endoscopy screen the subject using a tool called endoscope. Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is one of the types of endoscopy, where the endoscope is inserted through the mouth of the subject into the GI-tract. This type of endoscopy is complex in procedure and may be carried out only by skilled clinicians or medical practitioners. Thus, clinicians or medical practitioners planning to practise endoscopy should undergo rigorous and extensive training on the simulator before they try endoscopy on human subjects which necessitates the need of endoscopy simulators. Conventionally, endoscopic simulators have been made in the form of physical models which lack practicality and it provides low chances of variations.
Considering the above factors, computer based training models and various solutions including Virtual Reality (VR) for training the doctors have been proposed. In one such proposal, a clinical endoscope comprising an inlet for insertion, a sensor arrangement to detect movement of the instrument, and a controller to generate a virtual image of an endoscopic operation based on the movement of the instrument is disclosed.
Further, a device for simulating endoscopy is known in the art. Such device includes an endoscopic haptic interface with a friction roller which is connected to a motor for transmission of torque. Further, there is an axial brake, to block axial movement of the endoscope and allows rotation of the endoscope. The brake has two pairs of brake rollers, where one roller pair is movable relative to the other roller pair. The device consists of another friction roller mounted on the tube via a lever, which is actuated by a spring for insertion of endoscopes of different sizes and for providing contact force on the endoscope of the rollers.
However, the existing art including VR-based training systems fail to provide an immersive training environment. Further, simulation of resistance offered on the endoscope during insertion through throat is one of the critical steps in endoscopic training The known arts disclose the use of a rigid-body mechanisms for simulation of such resistance during endoscopy simulation. However, the use rigid body mechanism in the endoscope simulation device have drawbacks such as friction in joints and may cause wear and tear. Further, the use of rigid body mechanism in the endoscope may not give a user the actual feel of using an endoscope in reality.
The present disclosure is proposed to overcome one or more limitations stated above.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREOne or more shortcomings of the prior arts are overcome by a mechanism as claimed and additional advantages are provided through the provision of the mechanism as claimed in the present disclosure.
Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
In one non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure, a compliant mechanism for application of radial resistance on a simulation endoscope is disclosed. The mechanism comprising a support plate, a ring member rotatably mounted on the support plate and a plurality of flexible beam assemblies configured in an inner circumference of the ring member. The plurality of flexible beam assemblies comprises a first beam connectable to the ring member and a second beam connectable to the support plate. The circular motion of at least one of the support plate and the ring member, relative to each other, moves the plurality of flexible beam assemblies radially inward and radially outward to selectively apply radial resistance on the simulation endoscope.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, radial resistance is applied on the simulation endoscope when the plurality of flexible beam assemblies moves radially inward.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ring member is mounted on the support plate through a bearing, wherein, an outer race of the bearing is fixed to the support plate and an inner race of the bearing accommodates the ring member.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, free ends of the first beam and the second beam of each of the plurality of flexible beam assemblies are interconnected to form a support region. The mechanism comprises a gripping pad provisioned on the support region.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the plurality of flexible beam assemblies are equidistantly spaced to form a circular supporting region in the ring member.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the mechanism comprises an actuator coupled to the ring member, the actuator is configured to impart the circumferential actuation to ring member. The circumferential actuation causes rotary movement of the ring member.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the radially outward movement of at least one of the plurality of flexible beam assemblies imparts circumferential motion to the ring member.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the mechanism comprises a sensor coupled to the actuator. The sensor is configured to sense the magnitude of radially outward movement of the at least one of the plurality of flexible beam assemblies.
It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other device for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and the scope of the disclosure.
The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a compliant mechanism for application of radial resistance on a simulation endoscope.
The present disclosure discloses a compliant mechanism, which transmits and transform motion/force using elastic deformation. Compliant mechanisms provide an advantage over conventional rigid body mechanisms as they are free from backlash, play, and friction in joints. With these features, compliant mechanism of the present disclosure may be used in medical applications in medical devices such as haemostats, forceps etc. In an embodiment, the mechanism may be worked with all the standard endoscopes.
The present disclosure discloses a compliant mechanism for application of radial resistance on a simulation endoscope. The mechanism comprises a support plate to provide support to different components of the mechanism. Further, there is a ring member in the mechanism which is rotatably mounted on the support plate. The ring member may be circumferentially actuated to transmit motion or force to elastic members of the compliant mechanism. In an embodiment, the elastic members may be a plurality of flexible beam assemblies configured in an inner circumference of the ring member. In one embodiment, the plurality of flexible beam assemblies comprises a first beam and a second beam. The first beam may be connectable to the ring member and a second beam connectable to the support plate. The circumferential actuation of the ring member moves the plurality of flexible beam assemblies radially inward and radially outward to selectively apply radial resistance on the simulation endoscope. In an embodiment, application of the radial resistance on the simulation endoscope is required to simulate the force condition when the endoscope encounters sphincter muscle in a body of the subject. The mechanism of the present disclosure, thus by providing haptic feedback assists in 15 training for insertion of an endoscope into oesophagus instead of the trachea. In some embodiments, the ring member of the mechanism is mounted on the support plate through a bearing. The outer race of the bearing is fixed to the support plate and an inner race of the bearing accommodates the ring member.
Further, in an embodiment, free ends of the each of plurality of flexible beam assemblies are interconnected to form a support region. The free ends of the plurality of flexible beam assemblies are also provided with gripping pads, to support simulation endoscope entering the support region. In some embodiments, the mechanism comprises an actuator coupled to the ring member to impart circumferential actuation to the ring member. The circumferential actuation to the ring member rotates the ring member which causes radially inward movement of the plurality of flexible beam assemblies. The mechanism is also configured with a sensor coupled to the actuator. The sensor is configured to sense the magnitude of displacements of a plurality of flexible beam assemblies when they move in a radially outward direction. Thus, the complaint mechanism of the present disclosure may be capable of achieving reversible actuation between circumferential and radial directions to provide continuous haptic feedback during the simulation.
Henceforth, the present disclosure is explained with the help of figures of the compliant mechanism. However, such exemplary embodiments should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. A person skilled in the art can envisage various such embodiments without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
The compliant mechanism (100) further comprises a plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104) configured in an inner circumference of the ring member (103). In an embodiment, the flexible beam assemblies (104) may be made of a material such as polymeric material, as that of the ring member (103), where the beam assemblies (104) are configured as an integral part of the ring member (103). In another embodiment, the plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104) may be made of a material different from the ring member (103). The beam assemblies (104) are made flexible such that the beam assemblies (104) move radially inward and outward exhibiting elastic deformation to transmit force to the simulation endoscope. In some embodiments of the disclosure, each of the plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104) further comprises a first beam (104a) and a second beam (104b). The first beam (104a) is connectable to the ring member (103) and the second beam (104b) is connectable to the support plate (102).
Further, the mechanism (100) comprises an actuator (108) to actuate the ring member (103). The actuator (108) may be a motor, or a hydraulic or a pneumatic actuator. The actuator (108) may impart circumferential motion to the ring member (103). In an embodiment, the output shaft of the actuator (108) may be coupled to a capstan roller which is in turn coupled to the ring member (103) to transmit power from the actuator (108) to the ring member (103) to apply circumferential motion to the ring member (103). The ring member (103) further converts this circumferential motion into radial motion of the plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104).
In an embodiment, the plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104) is configured to apply radial resistance on the endoscope (101) to simulate the condition of encountering sphincter muscle such as but not limited to food pipe in the throat.
Referring now to
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The gripping pads (107) are configured to hold and support the simulation endoscope (101) during its insertion. In an embodiment, the plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104) may be made of pre-determined dimensions. The dimensions may be selected based on the force to be applied to the simulation endoscope (101).
Now referring to
In an embodiment, the mechanism (100) may also be configured to measure the magnitude of displacement of the flexible beams (104) when a simulation endoscope (101) is inserted. To measure the same, the mechanism (100) comprises a sensor (not shown in the figure) attached to an output shaft of the actuator (108). When the simulation endoscope (101) is inserted into the mechanism (100), the plurality of flexible beams (104) move in the radially outward direction [shown in
It is to be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art would do various modifications and variations without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations provided they come within the ambit of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Equivalents:
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
REFERRAL NUMERALS
Claims
1. A compliant mechanism (100) for application of radial resistance on a simulation endoscope (101), the mechanism (100) comprising: wherein, circular motion of at least one of the support plate (102) and the ring member (103). relative to each other, moves the plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104) radially inward and radially outward to selectively apply radial resistance on the simulation endoscope (101).
- a support plate (102):
- a ring member (103) rotatably mounted on the support plate (102);
- a plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104) configured in an inner circumference of the ring member (103). wherein, each of the plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104) comprises: a first beam (104a) connectable to the ring member (103): and a second beam (104b) connectable to the support plate (102):
2. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radial resistance is applied on the simulation endoscope (101) when the plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104) moves radially inward.
3. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ring member (103) is mounted on the support plate (102) through a bearing (105).
4. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein an outer race of the bearing (105a) is fixed to the support plate (102) and an inner race of the bearing (105b) accommodates the ring member (103).
5. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein free ends of the first beam (104a) and the second beam (104b) of each of the plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104) are interconnected to form a support region (106).
6. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 5 comprises a gripping pad (107) provisioned on the support region (106).
7. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104) are equidistantly spaced to form a circular supporting region (106) in the ring member (103).
8. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprises an actuator (108) coupled to the ring member (103), wherein the actuator (108) is configured to impart circumferential actuation to the ring member (103).
9. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the circumferential actuation causes rotary movement of the ring member (103)
10. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radial outward movement of at least one of the plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104) impart circumferential motion to the ring member (103).
11. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 8 comprises a sensor coupled to the actuator (108).
12. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claims 10 and 11, wherein the sensor is configured to sense the magnitude of radially outward movement of the at least one of the plurality of flexible beam assemblies (104).
13. An endoscopy simulation device comprising a mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 30, 2019
Publication Date: Dec 1, 2022
Patent Grant number: 12106679
Inventors: Anirudh Katti (Bangalore), Shanthanu Chakravarthy (Bangalore), Gondi Kondaiah Ananthasuresh (Bangalore)
Application Number: 16/525,968