A Macro-Robot Manipulator for Medical Applications

An actuated robot arm is designed for use as a macro manipulator that can carry, appropriately orient, precisely position and firmly "lock" in position different types of micro robots and surgical tools necessary for applications in minimally invasive therapy. The sophisticated configuration and joint structure of the arm enable it to perform and interact efficiently with the constrained and limited workspace of surgical environments. The normally locked braking system and the simple quick release joint enhance the safety features of the robot for emergencies and power shutdown. With a simple manipulation protocol, the surgeon can use the robot without undergoing any training. Robot workspace analysis indicates that all singularities are outside the operating work envelope. A performance analysis shows that the robot operates with an average displacement accuracy of 0.58 mm and a roll, pitch and yaw angular accuracies of 0.26deg, 0.26deg and 0.38deg respectively.