IP Library Granted Patent US 12,440,963
Granted Patent B2
US 12,440,963 · App. 18/716,649 · Granted Oct 14, 2025

Support arm device and robot device

Inventor: Hiroyuki Suzuki (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
B25J9/1065A61B34/70A61F9/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,440,963
App. No.
18/716,649
Granted
Oct 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A support arm device ( 20 ) includes: a parallel link mechanism ( 21 ) extending in a plane direction of a first plane; and a connection mechanism ( 22 ) connected to the parallel link mechanism ( 21 ), in which the parallel link mechanism ( 21 ) includes: a support link (L 89 ) that supports, on a distal end side, a surgical tool (T) to be inserted into a body of a patient; an opposing link (L 57 ) facing the support link (L 89 ); a first joint (J 5 ) connected to a first end of the opposing link (L 57 ); a second joint (J 7 ) connected to a second end of the opposing link (L 57 ); and a third joint (J 1 ) disposed at a base, the base being an end on a side opposite to the distal end side, the third joint rotationally driven, and the connection mechanism ( 22 ) is connected between the second joint (J 7 ) and the third joint (J 1 ), the connection mechanism transformed in a plane direction of a second plane intersecting the first plane in such a manner that the second joint (J 7 ) moves relative to the third joint (J 1 ) in an extending direction of the opposing link (L 57 ).

Claims (49)

1. A support arm device, comprising:

a parallel link mechanism extending in a plane direction of a first plane; and

a connection mechanism connected to the parallel link mechanism, wherein the parallel link mechanism includes:

a support link that supports, on a distal end side, a surgical tool to be inserted into a body of a patient;

an opposing link facing the support link;

a first joint connected to a first end of the opposing link;

a second joint connected to a second end of the opposing link; and

a third joint disposed at a base, wherein

the base is an end on a side opposite to the distal end side,

the third joint is rotationally driven,

the connection mechanism is connected between the second joint and the third joint, and

the connection mechanism includes a link mechanism configured to move in a plane direction of a second plane intersecting the first plane such that the second joint moves relative to the third joint in an extending direction of the opposing link.

2. The support arm device according to claim 1 , wherein the link mechanism of the connection mechanism is moved in the second plane such that the first joint, the second joint, the third joint, and the connection mechanism are positioned on the second plane.

3. The support arm device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second plane is orthogonal to the first plane.

4. The support arm device according to claim 1 , wherein the link mechanism is moved to have a V-shape on the second plane.

5. The support arm device according to claim 1 , wherein the link mechanism is moved to have a plurality of V-shapes on the second plane.

6. The support arm device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection mechanism includes an elastic body that is moved to have a U-shape on the second plane.

7. The support arm device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection mechanism includes an elastic body that is moved to spiral one or more times on the second plane.

8. The support arm device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the surgical tool is inserted into an eyeball of the patient.

9. The support arm device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection mechanism includes an elastic body that is elastic on the second plane.

10. The support arm device according to claim 9 ,

wherein the elastic body includes a leaf spring.

11. The support arm device according to claim 1 , further comprising a bendable plate-shaped member that forms the parallel link mechanism and the connection mechanism, wherein

a bent portion of the bendable plate-shaped member functions as a joint, and

a portion connecting bent portions in the bendable plate-shaped member functions as a link.

12. The support arm device according to claim 11 , wherein

the bent portion of the bendable plate-shaped member is elastic, and

the portion connecting the bent portions of the bendable plate-shaped member has higher rigidity than rigidity of the bent portions.

13. The support arm device according to claim 11 , wherein

the bendable plate-shaped member includes a plurality of plate-shaped members, and

a first plate-shaped member of the plurality of plate-shaped members is partially bonded to a second plate-shaped member of the plurality of plate-shaped members.

14. A robot device, comprising:

a first robot including a base portion and a distal end portion; and

a second robot supported by the distal end portion of the first robot, wherein

the second robot supports a surgical tool to be inserted into a body of a patient such that the surgical tool has a remote center of motion, and

the second robot includes:

a parallel link mechanism extending in a plane direction of a first plane; and

a connection mechanism connected to the parallel link mechanism, wherein the parallel link mechanism includes:

a support link that supports, on a distal end side, the surgical tool to be inserted into the body of the patient;

an opposing link facing the support link;

a first joint connected to a first end of the opposing link;

a second joint connected to a second end of the opposing link; and

a third joint disposed at a base, wherein

the base is an end on a side opposite to the distal end side,

the third joint is rotationally driven,

the connection mechanism is connected between the second joint and the third joint, and

the connection mechanism includes a link mechanism configured to move in a plane direction of a second plane intersecting the first plane such that the second joint moves relative to the third joint in an extending direction of the opposing link.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2024
From: SUZUKI, HIROYUKI
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067627/0345 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2021-201495 · Dec 13, 2021 · national
JP 2022-038280 · Mar 11, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250033194A1 · Jan 30, 2025
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