IP Library Granted Patent US 12,472,022
Granted Patent B2
US 12,472,022 · App. 17/894,518 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Surgical robotic system with daisy chaining

Inventors: Ulrich Hagn (Munich, DE); Alexander Nothhelfer (Munich, DE)
Assignee: Covidien LP
A61B34/37A61B2017/00221A61B2034/301A61B2034/304A61B2034/306
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,472,022
App. No.
17/894,518
Granted
Nov 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A surgical robotic system includes a first robotic arm, a second robotic arm, a control tower, and a surgeon console. The first robotic arm is engaged with a first movable cart. The second robotic arm is engaged with a second movable cart. The control tower is configured to control movement of the first robotic arm. The surgeon console is configured to provide instructions to the control tower. The control tower is electrically coupled to the surgeon console via a first cable. The surgeon console is electrically coupled to the first movable cart via a second cable.

Claims (34)

1 . A surgical robotic system comprising:

a first robotic arm engaged with a first movable cart;

a second robotic arm engaged with a second movable cart;

a control tower configured to control movements of the first robotic arm and the second robotic arm; and

a surgeon console configured to provide instructions to the control tower,

wherein the control tower is directly electrically coupled to the surgeon console via a first cable, wherein the surgeon console is directly electrically coupled to the first movable cart via a second cable, wherein the control tower is directly electrically coupled to the second robotic arm via a third cable, wherein the control tower is free from a direct electrical coupling with the first movable cart, wherein the surgeon console is free from a direct electrical coupling with the second movable cart, wherein each of the first cable, the second cable, and the third cable is configured to transmit electrical current sufficient for supplying power for surgical procedures, and wherein at least one of the first cable, the second cable or the third cable is configured to transmit electrosurgical current.

2 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 1 , wherein the first movable cart is electrically coupled to the second movable cart.

3 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 2 , further comprising a third robotic arm engaged with a third movable cart, wherein each of the first movable cart and the second movable cart is electrically coupled to the third movable cart, wherein the surgeon console is free from a direct electrical coupling with the third movable cart.

4 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 2 , further comprising an endoscopic camera mechanically coupled to the first robotic arm, and a surgical instrument mechanically coupled to the second robotic arm.

5 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 1 , wherein the control tower includes a power supply system therein.

6 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 5 , wherein the surgeon console is directly electrically coupled to the power supply system.

7 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 5 , wherein the power supply system includes a power ingress module, an electrical main configured to supply alternating current, an isolation transformer, and at least one uninterruptible power supply coupled to the isolation transformer.

8 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 7 , wherein the uninterruptible power supply is coupled to a tower power supply chassis.

9 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 8 , wherein the tower power supply chassis includes a first power supply configured to provide a regulated DC output to the surgeon console via the first cable and a first connector.

10 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 9 , wherein the surgeon console includes a second power supply configured to provide a regulated DC output to the first movable cart via the second cable and a second connector.

11 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 1 , further comprising an endoscopic camera mechanically coupled to the first robotic arm.

12 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first robotic arm, the second robotic arm, the control tower, and the surgeon console is directly electrically coupled to two other of the first robotic arm, the second robotic arm, the control tower, and the surgeon console in a closed loop daisy chain arrangement.

13 . A surgical robotic system, comprising:

a control tower;

a surgeon console directly electrically coupled to the control tower; and

a plurality of movable carts, each of which having a robotic arm engaged therewith, and each of which including a battery for supplying power,

wherein each movable cart of the plurality of movable carts is electrically coupled to another movable cart of the plurality of movable carts in a daisy chain arrangement,

wherein only a first movable cart of the plurality of movable carts is directly electrically coupled to the control tower via a cable which is configured to transmit electrosurgical current, and

wherein only a second movable cart of the plurality of movable carts is directly electrically coupled to the surgeon console.

14 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 13 , wherein each of the control tower, the surgeon console, and each movable cart of the plurality of movable carts is electrically coupled to two other of the control tower, the surgeon console, and each movable cart of the plurality of movable carts in a closed loop daisy chain arrangement.

15 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 13 , wherein the control tower includes a power supply, and wherein the surgeon console includes a power supply.

16 . A method of supplying power to a surgical robotic system, comprising:

directly electrically coupling a surgeon console with a control tower using a first cable;

directly electrically coupling a first movable cart with the surgeon console using a second cable;

electrically coupling a second movable cart with the first movable cart using a third cable; and

directly electrically coupling the second movable cart with the control tower using a fourth cable,

wherein each of the first cable, the second cable, the third cable, and the fourth cable is configured to transmit electrosurgical current.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the surgeon console is only directly electrically coupled to the control tower and the first movable cart.

18 . The surgical robotic system according to claim 16 , wherein each of the control tower, the surgeon console, the first movable cart, and the second movable cart is directly electrically coupled to exactly two other of the control tower, the surgeon console, the first movable cart, and the second movable cart in a closed loop daisy chain arrangement.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2022
From: HAGN, ULRICH; NOTHHELFER, ALEXANDER
To: MEDTRONIC GMBH
Reel/Frame 060888/0050 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2022
From: MEDTRONIC GMBH
To: COVIDIEN LP
Reel/Frame 060888/0136 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63306234 · Feb 3, 2022
Provisional Application 63248005 · Sep 24, 2021
Related Publication 20230097023A1 · Mar 30, 2023
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