IP Library Granted Patent US 8,801,730
Granted Patent B2
US 8,801,730 · App. 12/604,462 · Granted Aug 12, 2014

Retention device, medical robot and method to set the tool center point of a medical robot

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,801,730
App. No.
12/604,462
Granted
Aug 12, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a retention device, a medical robot and a method to set the tool center point of a medical robot, the retention device has a fixing device to fix the head of a person held by the retention device. The fixing device provides an indication of the position of the openings of the auditory canals of the ears of the person relative to the retention device based on the relation between the fixing device and the head of the person and the relation between the fixing device and the retention device.

Claims (13)

1. A medical robot comprising:

a retention device comprising

a patient support configured to support a human patient thereon,

a fixing device configured to fix the head of the patient on said patient support, said fixing device including a measurement device configured to abut the respective openings of the auditory canals of the ears of the patient to determine the position of the respective openings of auditory canals of the ears of the patient relative to the patient support, based on a determination of the position of the fixing device relative to the head of the patient and a determination of the position of the fixing device relative to the patient support,

said retention device being configured to generate an electrical signal representing the position of the respective openings of auditory canals of the ears of the patient;

a control device supplied with said electrical signal representing said position;

a robot arm comprising multiple movement axes;

an attachment device that attaches said patient support to said robot arm; and

said control device being configured to operate said robot arm dependent on said indication position of the respective openings of auditory canals of the ears of the patient.

2. A medical robot as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said control device is configured to set a tool center point of said robot arm, representing a point that is movable in space by controlling said robot arm with said control device, in relation to said openings of auditory canals of the patient.

3. A medical robot as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said control device is configured to set said tool center point to coincide with a position of a predetermined equilibrium organ of the patient.

4. A medical robot as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said measurement device is configured to determine the position of the respective ear drums of the patient by measuring the distance from the respective openings of the external auditory canals of the patient's ears to the respective eardrums of the patient, said measuring being a non-contact-based measurement, and wherein said control device is configured to set a tool center point of said robot arm, said tool center point being moved in space as said robot arm is operated by said control device, relative to the respective eardrums of the patient.

5. A medical robot as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said control device is configured to set said tool center point to coincide with a position of a predetermined equilibrium organ of the patient.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 13, 2011
From: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH
To: KUKA LABORATORIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 026273/0925 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2009
From: JACOB, DIRK
To: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH
Reel/Frame 023724/0051 →