Manipulator and manipulation device equipped with it

Background of the Invention

(1) Field of the Invention

0001The present invention relates to a manipulator and a manipulation device using the same, and more particular to a compact manipulator for a medical application and a manipulation device using the same. A manipulator as described in the preamble portion of patent claim 1 is known from <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="JP1281883A"><text>JP 1 281 883 A</text></patcit>.

(2) Description of Related Art

0002A high-frequency end-effecter is bored into a body of a patient while observing an affected part by using a diagnosis apparatus such as an MRI, an ultrasonic scanner, an endoscope or the like, thereby treating the affected part within a body cavity.

0003Further, for example, <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="JP2003534038A"><text>JP-2003-534038 A</text></patcit> (patent document 1) describes a manipulation device (a medical apparatus) provided with a guide portion accommodating a puncture needle and a driving apparatus of the puncture needle, in which a guide portion is divided into two portions, a puncture needle is friction bonded between the two portions by a driving roller, and a motor is driven in accordance with a remote control, thereby enabling a linear movement sticking a end-effecter from a body surface of a patient.

0004Further, for example, <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="JP9285989A"><text>JP-09-285989 A</text></patcit> describes a multistage telescopic apparatus for obtaining a great linear moving amount while having a small installed space.

0005In the prior art mentioned above, it is necessary to bore the needle in a narrow space within a gantry of the diagnosis apparatus such as the MRI or the like, and it is required to downsize more.

0006Further, in the structure described in the patent document 1, the puncture can be carried out in accordance with a remote control, however, it is hard to correspond to the other treatment than the puncture. Further, since the end-effecter is linearly inserted to the affected portion from the body surface of the patient, there is a case that it is hard to insert while avoiding the other internal organ, blood vessel or the like (hereinafter, refer to as an obstacle) which should not be injured than the affected portion.

0007Further, in order to correspond to various treatments, it is necessary to attach and detach plural kinds of manipulators to and from a driving mechanism so as to replace, however, in the case that the driving apparatus such as the motor or the like is installed in the driving mechanism, the structure is enlarged in size and is not suitable for being used in a narrow space such as within the gantry or the like. Further, there is a case that an influence of a noise or the like is applied to the diagnosis apparatus, by installing the driving apparatus within the gantry.

0008Accordingly, there can be considered a method of transmitting a driving force of the driving apparatus by using a wire from an external portion such as an outer side of the gantry of the diagnosis apparatus or the like, however, in the case of using the wire, there is a case that a controllability is deteriorated by a slack of the wire or the like, or a problem of a fatigue disconnection of the wire is generated.

0009Further, in order to downsize the driving mechanism, it is necessary to make a moving amount for driving the manipulator which can be replaced from the removable portion small. Accordingly, there is a risk that the moving amount runs short in a manipulator leading end with respect to an operation device carrying out the treatment.

0010In order to sufficiently enlarge the moving amount in the manipulator leading end, it is preferable to amplify the moving amount until the leading end in comparison with the moving amount of the driving, however, in the case of simply applying the multistage telescopic apparatus as described in the patent document 2, a force necessary for driving the telescopic mechanism is increased in an equal rate to an amplification factor of a linear moving amount, and it is hard to achieve a great linear motion force.

0011<patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="JP1281883A"><text>JP 1 281 883 A</text></patcit> discloses a manipulator comprising a manipulator shaft portion; a first rod supported so as to be capable of linearly moving with respect to said manipulator shaft portion and driven by a driving force; a first gear rotatably supported to said first rod and moved in accordance with a movement of said first rod; a first rack fixed to said manipulator shaft portion; a second rack supported so as to be capable of linearly moving in the same direction as said first rod with respect to said manipulator shaft portion; and an end-effecter driven by the driving force generated in accordance with a movement of said second rack, wherein said first rack and said second rack are arranged in parallel in such a manner that a cogged surface of said first rack and a cogged surface of said second rack come face to face, and said first gear is pinched between said first rack and said second rack, and is arranged in a state of engaging with each of said first rack and said second rack.

Brief Summary of the Invention

0012An object of the present invention is to provide a manipulator which can enlarge a moving range of an end-effecter in a manipulator leading end while being compact, and a manipulation device using the same.

0013This object is accomplished with a manipulator as claimed in claim 1.

0014Dependent claims are directed on features of preferred embodiments of the invention.

0015In accordance with the manipulator of the present invention and the manipulation device using the same, it is possible to enlarge a moving range of the end-effecter in a leading end of the manipulator while being compact in size.

0016Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawing

0017<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is a perspective view of a manipulation device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> is an enlarged view in the vicinity of a removable mechanism in the manipulation device in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> is a perspective view of a removable driving mechanism in the manipulation device in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref> is a side elevational view of the removable mechanism in the manipulation device in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Fig. 5</figref> is a bottom elevational view of the removable mechanism in the manipulation device in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Fig. 6</figref> is a cross sectional view showing a connected state of the removable mechanism and the removable driving mechanism in the manipulation device in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Fig. 7</figref> is a cross sectional view showing a connected state of a second driving rack and a contact gear in the manipulation device in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Fig. 8</figref> is a cross sectional view showing a locked state of the contact gear in the manipulation device in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Fig. 9</figref> is a schematic view of a mechanism amplifying a linear moving amount of a manipulator in the manipulation device in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0007">Fig. 10</figref> is a cross sectional view of the translational speed enhancement mechanism in <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 9</figref>;</li><li><figref idref="f0008">Figs. 11A</figref> to and 11C are views for explaining a motion of the translational speed enhancement mechanism.</li></ul>

Detailed Description of the Invention

0018A description will be given below of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention with reference to <figref idref="f0001 f0002 f0003 f0004 f0005 f0006 f0007 f0008">Figs. 1 to 11</figref>.

0019<figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is a perspective view of a manipulation device 10 in accordance with the present embodiment. The manipulation device 10 is constituted by a manipulator 100, a driving apparatus, a link mechanism 500 and the like, and is structured such as to correspond to various treatments by replacing a plurality of manipulators 100. The driving apparatus is constituted by a removable driving mechanism 200, a driving source 300 and the like.

0020The manipulator 100 is provided with a manipulator bending portion 119. Accordingly, the manipulator 100 has a freedom avoiding an obstacle. The manipulator bending portion 119 is provided in an intermediate portion of the manipulator 100. A needle 400 corresponding to a end-effecter is stored in an inner portion of the manipulator 100, from a manipulator leading end portion 118 to the manipulator bending portion 119. The needle 400 is arranged so as to be linearly moved by the manipulator 100 and be taken in and out of the manipulator leading end portion 118. Further, the manipulator 100 is connected to the removable driving mechanism 200 via the removable mechanism 101.

0021The removable driving mechanism 200 is supported to a rail 601, for example, installed in a bed 600, via a link mechanism 501 and an arm 502. A lower end portion of the arm 502 is fixed to the rail 601 so as to be installed.

0022<figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> shows an enlarged view in the vicinity of the removable mechanism 101. The removable mechanism 101 provided in the manipulator 100 is fitted to the removable driving mechanism 200, and the removable mechanism 101 is fixed by a lever 201 of the removable driving mechanism 200. Details of them are mentioned later.

0023<figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> is a perspective view of the removable driving mechanism 200. The removable driving mechanism 200 is constituted by a base portion 220, a plurality of driving racks, a lever 201 and the like. A plurality of driving racks are constituted by a first driving rack 204, a second driving rack 203 and a third driving rack 202.

0024The base portion 220 has a plurality of driving rack grooves, left and right guide grooves 208 and 209, and left and right side walls 210 and 211. A plurality of driving rack grooves are constituted by a first driving rack groove 207, a second driving rack groove 206 and a third driving rack groove 205.

0025The first driving rack groove 207, the second driving rack groove 206 and the third driving rack groove 205 are formed in parallel to each other on an upper surface of a bottom wall of the base portion 220. Further, the first driving rack 204 is movably arranged within the first driving rack groove 207, the second driving rack 203 is arranged within the second driving rack groove 206, and the third driving rack 202 is arranged within the third driving rack groove 205. Each of the driving racks 202 to 204 is independently driven by a driving source 300, and is linearly moved in a groove direction within each of the rack grooves 205 and 207.

0026The left and right guide grooves 208 and 209 are provided for guiding the removable mechanism 101 to a predetermined position of the removable driving mechanism 200 at a time of connecting the removable mechanism 101 to the removable driving mechanism 200, and are provided so as to be positioned in both sides of the rack grooves 205 and 207 in the base portion 220 and in the manipulator side.

0027The left and right side walls 210 and 211 are provided for fixing the removable mechanism 101 connected to the removable driving mechanism 200, and are attached rotatably to the upper surface of the base portion 200 so as to be positioned in an opposite manipulator side in the base portion 200.

0028<figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref> is a side elevational view of the removable mechanism 101 provided in the manipulator 100, and <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 5</figref> is a bottom elevational view of <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref>. The removable mechanism 101 has a plurality of contact devices, left and right guides 106 and 107, a fixing device 102, a lock cover 145, a lock rack 146 and a lock bar guide 147. A plurality of contact devices are constituted by a first contact rack 105, a contact gear 104 and a second contact rack 103.

0029The first contact rack 105, the contact gear 104 and the second contact rack 103 are provided in such a manner as to be capable of engaging with the first driving rack 204, the second driving rack 203 and the third driving rack 202 respectively at a time of connecting the removable mechanism 101 to the removable driving mechanism 200.

0030The left and right guides 106 and 107 have the same outer surface shapes as inner surface shapes of the left and right guide grooves 208 and 209, and are provided in both sides of the removable mechanism 101. The fixing device 102 is attached to a rear end surface of the removable mechanism 101, and is structured such as to be capable of being locked to the lever 201.

0031The cylindrical lock bar 145 passes through the lock rack 146 so as to protrude to both sides, and the both side protruding portions are arranged so as to move up and down within the lock bar guide 147. The lock rack 146 is arranged so as to be movable up and down in accordance with a vertical motion of the lock bar 145, and a lower surface thereof forms a cogged surface. When the lock rack 146 is moved down, the cogged surface in the lower surface engages with the contact gear 104, and the engagement is canceled at a time when the lock rack 146 is moved up.

0032<figref idref="f0005">Fig. 6</figref> is a cross sectional view showing a connected state between the removable mechanism 101 and the removable driving mechanism 200, <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 7</figref> is a cross sectional view showing a connected state between the second driving rack 203 and the contact gear 104, and <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 8</figref> is a cross sectional view showing a lock state of the contact gear 104.

0033The connection between the removable mechanism 101 and the removable driving mechanism 200 is carried out by inserting the left and right guides 106 and 107 to the left and right guide grooves 208 and 209, rotating the lever 201 in a direction of an arrow in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref>, and pressing the lever 201 against the fixing device 102 as shown in <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 6</figref>. It is possible to constrain the manipulator 100 by holding the fixing device 102 by the lever 201 as mentioned above, and the removable mechanism 101 can be attached and detached in accordance with such an easy method as the rotation of the lever 201. Further, it is possible to easily discriminate whether or not the manipulator is securely fixed, by viewing the direction of the lever 201, and it is possible to prevent a falling accident of the manipulator 100 caused by an uncertain fixation.

0034The driving force is transmitted from the removable driving mechanism 200 to the manipulator 100 on the basis of an engagement between the first contact rack 105 provided in the removable mechanism 101 and the first driving rack 204, an engagement between the contact gear 104 and the second driving rack 203, and an engagement between the second contact track 103 and the third driving rack 202.

0035As shown in <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 7</figref>, the contact gear 104 is engaged with the second driving rack 203. The second driving rack 203 is connected a driving apparatus side rod 302 having a flexibility. The driving apparatus side rod 302 passes through a driving apparatus side tube 305 having a flexibility. It is possible to linearly move the second driving rack 203 in a direction A-B by fixing the driving apparatus side tube 305, and linearly moving the driving apparatus side rod 302 in the direction A-B by the driving source 300. The linear motion of the second driving rack 203 is converted into a rotating motion by the contact gear 104. As mentioned above, by using the driving apparatus side rod 302, it is possible to avoid a deterioration of a controllability caused by a slack or the like, in comparison with a driving transmission by a wire or the like. Further, in the case of the wire, a fatigue breakage frequently comes into question, however, in the case of the rod, the fatigue breakage is hard to be generated. Further, at a time of transmitting the linear motion and the rotating motion, at least two wires are generally necessary in the case of the wire, however, in the case of the rod, it is possible to transmit the linear motion by one rod, thereby contributing to a downsizing, an improvement of a maintenance performance and the like.

0036In this case, in the driving force transmission between the first driving rack 204 and the driving source 300, and the driving force transmission between the third driving rack 202 and the driving source 300, there is employed the same structure as the driving force transmission between the second driving rack 203 and the driving source 300 mentioned above.

0037At a time of attaching the removable mechanism 101 to the removable driving mechanism 200, there is a possibility that the contact gear 203 is unexpectedly rotated from the initial state. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the contact gear 104 from being unexpectedly rotated by fixing the contact gear 104 by moving the lock bar 145 along the lock bar guide 147, and pressing the lock rack 146 against the contact gear 104 as shown in <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 8</figref> so as to engage the cogged surface of the lock rack 146 with the cogged surface of the contact gear 104.

0038Further, at a time of attaching the removable mechanism 101 to the removable driving mechanism 200, the lock bar 145 comes into contact with the side wall 210 and the side wall 211 as shown in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>, and is pushed up along the lock bar guide 147. Accordingly, as shown in <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 7</figref>, the lock rack 146 and the contact gear 104 are not engaged with each other, and it is possible to rotate the contact gear 104 by the driving source 300. It is possible to prevent such an accident as to neglect canceling the fixation of the contact rack 104 or the like, by a mechanism by which the lock rack 146 does not automatically engage with the contact gear 104 at a time of attaching.

0039In order to downsize the removable driving mechanism 200, and prevent a buckling of the removable driving mechanism 200 in a portion C (refer to <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 7</figref>) of the driving apparatus side rod 302, the linear moving amounts of the first driving rack 204, the second driving rack 203 and the third driving rack 202 are limited. Accordingly, in the case that a great linear moving amount is necessary in the manipulator 100, it is necessary to amplify the linear moving amount from the removable mechanism 101 of the linear moving manipulator 100 to the manipulator leading end portion 118.

0040<figref idref="f0006">Fig. 9</figref> is a schematic view of a mechanism amplifying the linear moving amount in the manipulator 100, and <figref idref="f0007">Fig. 10</figref> is a cross sectional view of the translational speed enhancement mechanism in <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 9</figref>. In this case, the manipulator bending portion 119 is omitted for simplifying the drawing, in <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 9</figref>.

0041In <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 9</figref>, the first rod 109 connected to the first contact rack 105 is supported to the manipulator shaft portion 110 so as to be linearly movable in the direction A-B. The second rod 108 connected to the second contact rack 103 is supported to the manipulator shaft portion 110 so as to be linearly movable in the direction A-B. The second rod 108 and the first rod 109 are arranged in parallel.

0042The fixed rack (the first rack) 113 is fixed to the manipulator shaft portion 110, and is engaged with the first gear 112. The output rack (the third rack) 114 is supported to the manipulator shaft portion 110 so as to be linearly movable in the direction A-B, and is engaged with the second gear 111.

0043The first gear 112 is supported to the first rod 109 by its shaft, and is engaged with the transmission rack 115 so as to be rotatable. The second gear 111 is supported to the second rod 108 by its shaft, and is engaged with the transmission rack (the second rack) 115 so as to be rotatable.

0044The transmission rack 115 is arranged within the transmission rack groove 116 formed in the manipulator shaft portion 110 so as to be long in the direction A-B, and is linearly moved in the direction A-B along the transmission rack shaft 116. The first gear 112 is pinched between the fixed rack 113 and the transmission rack 115, and is arranged in a state of being engaged with each of the fixed rack 113 and the transmission rack 115. Further, the second gear 111 is pinched between the transmission rack 115 and the output rack 114 as shown in <figref idref="f0007">Fig. 10</figref>, and is arranged in a state of being engaged with each of the transmission rack 115 and the output rack 114.

0045A handle 117 is fixed to a leading end of the output rack 114 as shown in <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 9</figref>, and a needle 400 is attached to the handle 117 in a replaceable manner.

0046<figref idref="f0008">Fig. 11</figref> is a view explaining a motion of the translational speed enhancement mechanism in <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 9</figref>. <figref idref="f0008">Fig. 11A</figref> shows a reference state of the translational speed enhancement mechanism, <figref idref="f0008">Fig. 11B</figref> shows a one-stage amplified state of the translational speed enhancement mechanism, and <figref idref="f0008">Fig. 11C</figref> shows a two-stage amplified state of the translational speed enhancement mechanism, respectively.

0047First of all, it the first rod 109 is linearly moved in the direction B in the state of <figref idref="f0008">Fig. 11A</figref>, the first gear 112 is moved in the direction B together with the first rod 109 while rotating. Accordingly, the transmission rack 115 engaged with the first gear 112 is exposed to both of a driving force in the direction B caused by the rotation of the first gear 112 and a driving force in the direction B caused by the movement of the first gear 112, and is linearly moved along the transmission rack groove 116 in the direction B at a moving amount which is twice as much as the linear moving amount of the first rod 109. At this time, if the second rod 108 is set to the fixed state, the second gear 111 is rotated on the basis of a linear movement of the transmission rack 115. On the basis of this rotation, the output rack 114 is linearly moved in the direction A at an equal moving amount to a moving amount of the transmission rack 115. Accordingly, the output rack 114 is linearly moved in a needle point direction at a moving amount which is twice as much as the moving amount of the first rod 109, as shown in <figref idref="f0008">Fig. 11B</figref>.

0048Next, if the first rod 109 is fixed and the second rod 108 is linearly moved in the direction A (the needle point direction), in a state of <figref idref="f0008">Fig. 11B</figref>, the second gear 111 is moved in the direction A together with the second rod 108 while rotating. Accordingly, the output rack 114 engaging with the second gear 111 is exposed to both the driving force in the direction A caused by the rotation of the second gear 111 and the driving force in the direction A caused by the movement of the second gear 111, and is linearly moved in the direction A at a moving amount which is twice as much as the linear moving amount of the second rod 108, as shown in <figref idref="f0008">Fig. 11C</figref>.

0049In this case, the motion mentioned above is explained on the basis of the example in which the second rod 108 is first fixed so as to linearly move the first rod 109, and the first rod 109 is next fixed so as to linearly move the second rod 108, however, the same effect can be obtained even if the moving orders of the second rod 108 and the first rod 109 are inverted. Further, the second rod 108 and the first rod 109 may be simultaneously moved linearly. In this case, it is possible to obtain a large moving amount for a short operating time.

0050Further, the translational speed enhancement mechanism is driven by the driving source 300 such as the motor or the like via the removable driving mechanism 200, however, may be driven by a manual driving source. Alternatively, the second rod 108 and the first rod 109 may be directly driven by the driving source such as the motor or the like, or manually. In the case of being driven manually, even if a moving amount of a human finger or the like is small, a large linear moving amount can be obtained, and there is an advantage that an operability is good.

0051Further, the number of the driving rack provided in the removable driving mechanism 200 is not limited to three including the first driving rack 204, the second driving rack 203 and the third driving rack 202, but may have a necessary number of driving racks required by the manipulator having the maximum degree of freedom in a plurality of replaced manipulators. In this case, the removable driving mechanism 200 can correspond to various manipulators by unifying the removable mechanism 101 of the replaced manipulator 100.

0052Further, the embodiment mentioned above uses two driving racks including the first driving rack 204 and the third driving rack 202, for the mechanism amplifying the linear moving amount, however, it is possible to use one to a plurality of driving racks without being limited to two driving racks. At a time of using only one driving rack, in the embodiment mentioned above, the transmission rack 115 is set to a fixed rack fixed to the manipulator shaft portion 110, and only the set of the second gear 111, the output rack 114 and the second rod 108 may be used. At this time, it is possible to linearly move the output rack at the linear moving amount which is twice as much as the linear moving amount of the second rod 108. Further, at a time of using three driving racks, in the embodiment mentioned above, it is preferable that the output rack 114 is set to a new transmission rack, and is connected to a third gear connected to the third rod, and the new output rack is provided in the third gear. At this time, it is possible to linearly move the output rack at a total moving amount obtained by doubling each of the moving amounts of three rods. Further, it is preferable to arrange plural sets of mechanisms each constituted by the transmission rack 115, the second rod 108, the second gear 11 and the output rack 114.

0053The mechanism amplifying the linear moving amount in accordance with the present embodiment is constituted by the gear and the rack, and does not use any wire. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the fatigue disconnection, the slack or the like of the wire, and a maintenance performance is improved. Further, it is possible amplify the linear moving amount regardless of a magnitude of a diameter of the gear.

0054Further, in the case of amplifying the moving amount of the linear motion generally obtained by one driving mechanism, the driving force required by one driving mechanism is increased at an equal rate to an amplification factor of the linear moving amount, at a time of outputting a predetermined force. However, in the present embodiment, in the case of utilizing a plurality of driving hooks, it is possible to disperse the driving force required for linearly moving the output rack into a plurality of driving mechanisms. At a time of outputting the predetermined force, in the case of dispersing the driving force into a plurality of driving mechanisms, the driving force required by one driving mechanism corresponds to a value obtained by dividing the amplification factor of the linear moving amount by the number of the driving mechanisms.

0055In this case, the mechanism amplifying the linear moving range in accordance with the present embodiment employs the gears and the racks, however, may employ rollers and plates which come into rolling contact with each other.

0056In accordance with the present embodiment, it is possible to achieve the narrow manipulator which can carry out such a treatment as to insert the end-effecter while avoiding the obstacle within the human body, while having a large moving range of the leading end. Further, it is possible to construct the manipulation device which can attach and detach the manipulator in the replaceable manner, is structured as a general purpose manner which can be driven by the removable driving mechanism, and can carry out the multifunction treatment with the removable mechanism having both the maintenance performance and the controllability.

0057It should be further understood by those skilled in the art that although the foregoing description has been made on embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited thereto and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.