Stabilizer wheel assembly and methods of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10569794-B2
Application number	US-201816136815-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2018
Priority date	Oct 13, 2015
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

Included is a stabilizer wheel assembly that may assist in stabilizing a medical device during a medical procedure. A medical device may comprise a body; and a plurality of stabilizer wheel assemblies coupled to the body, wherein the stabilizer wheel assemblies each comprise a motor assembly and a stabilization leg, wherein the motor assembly is configured to drive the stabilization leg onto a contact surface to stabilize the body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of stabilizing a medical robot system comprising the steps of:
providing a medical robot system comprising:
a body;
a computer processor disposed within the body;
a tool assembly attached to the body;
a display assembly attached to the body;
a base attached to the body; and
at least one stabilizer wheel assembly disposed on the base,
wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly comprises a motor and a stabilizer leg, and
wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly comprises a foot attached to an end of the corresponding stabilization leg opposite a nut,

receiving one or more commands from a platform interface to move each stabilizer leg by controlling each motor
wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a bumper.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps further include driving each stabilization leg into a contact surface until each stabilization leg exerts a predetermined force on the contact surface.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a caster.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a stem, wherein the corresponding caster rotates three hundred and sixty degrees around each stem.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein each motor is connected to a top of the corresponding stem.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the steps further include extending each stabilization leg through the corresponding caster to the contact surface.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a motor cover that encloses each motor, a motor cap disposed on top of each motor, and a motor bracket that supports each motor.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein each foot increases the friction between the corresponding stabilization leg and a contact surface.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a caster and a set screw is disposed on a side of the caster.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the steps further include securing each stabilizer wheel assembly into a corresponding channel to prevent the corresponding stabilization leg from rotating.

11. A method of stabilizing a medical robot comprising the steps of:
providing the medical robot comprising:
a body;
a stabilizer wheel assembly coupled to the body, wherein the stabilizer wheel assembly comprises a motor assembly and stabilization leg, wherein the motor assembly is configured to drive the stabilization leg onto a contact surface to stabilize the body; and
a computer processor disposed within the body,
wherein the stabilizer wheel assembly comprises a foot attached to an end of the corresponding stabilization leg opposite a nut

receiving one or more commands from a platform interface to move each stabilizer leg by controlling each motor
wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a bumper.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the steps further include driving the stabilization leg into the contact surface until the stabilization leg exerts a predetermined force on the contact surface.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a caster.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a stem, wherein the caster rotates three hundred and sixty degrees around the stem.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the motor assembly is connected to a top of the stem.

16. The method of claim 15 , further includes the step of extending the stabilization leg through the caster to the contact surface.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the motor assembly further comprises a motor, a motor cover that encloses each motor, a motor cap disposed on top of each motor, and a motor bracket that supports each motor.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the stabilizer wheel assembly comprises a foot attached to an end of the stabilization leg opposite a nut.

19. A method of stabilizing a medical robot system comprising the steps of:
providing a medical robot system comprising:
a body;
a computer processor disposed within the body;
a tool assembly attached to the body;
a display assembly attached to the body;
a base attached to the body; and
at least one stabilizer wheel assembly disposed on the base,
wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly comprises a motor and a stabilizer leg, an

receiving one or more commands from a platform interface to move each stabilizer leg by controlling each motor
wherein each stabilizer wheel assembly further comprises a bumper.

Assignees

• Globus Medical Inc

Inventors

• Johnson Norbert
• Moulton Timothy
• Pelletier James
• Zhang Kevin
• Judson Jared
• Schmieta Gerd

Classifications

• A61B34/30

  Surgical robots · CPC title

• A61G7/0528

  Steering or braking devices for castor wheels · CPC title

• B60K7/0007

  the motor being electric · CPC title

• B60K2007/0038

  the motor moving together with the wheel axle · CPC title

• B60B33/0089

  acting on the floor · CPC title