Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Modular and Reconfigurable Articulation Assemblies for Next-Generation Surgical Instruments

Publication ID: 24-11857188_0005_PTD
Published: November 07, 2025
Category:Future Evolutions & Paradigm Shifts

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Modular and Reconfigurable Articulation Assemblies for Next-Generation Surgical Instruments,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857188_0005_PTD, Published November 07, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857188_0005_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,188.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

A novel articulation assembly for surgical instruments that enables modularity, reconfigurability, and real-time optimization, revolutionizing minimally invasive surgeries and expanding the capabilities of robotic surgical systems.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent disclosed a wrist assembly for articulating an end effector in surgical stapling instruments, but it has limitations in terms of adaptability, flexibility, and real-time optimization. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing a modular and reconfigurable wrist assembly that can be adapted for various surgical procedures and optimized in real-time.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The modular wrist assembly comprises interchangeable end effectors and a reconfigurable actuation mechanism, allowing for seamless adaptation to different surgical procedures. The assembly is integrated with sensing and feedback mechanisms, providing real-time data to a control system that optimizes the performance of the surgical instrument. The system can be upgraded by replacing the existing wrist assembly with a modular one, and recalibrating the instrument using the control system.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce a paradigm shift by providing a modular and reconfigurable wrist assembly that can be adapted for various surgical procedures, and optimized in real-time using sensing and feedback mechanisms. This is a significant departure from the original patent's fixed wrist assembly design, and enables a new generation of surgical instruments with unprecedented flexibility and adaptability.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include different types of end effectors, actuation mechanisms, and sensing technologies. The modular wrist assembly could be designed to be compatible with various robotic surgical systems, or integrated with artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to further optimize performance.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The modular and reconfigurable articulation assembly has the potential to revolutionize the surgical instrument market, particularly in the areas of minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgeries. The technology could be licensed to leading medical device manufacturers, or used to develop new products and services that expand the capabilities of surgical systems.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61B17/07207
A A61 A61B34/30
A A61 A61B2017/00367
A A61 A61B2017/00477
A A61 A61B2017/07278
A A61 A61B2034/306

Field of Art

Minimally invasive surgical instrument design, focusing on robotic surgical systems with articulating end effectors and wrist assemblies, requiring advanced mechanical engineering, biomechanical expertise, and understanding of robotic surgical technologies

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or mechanical engineer with expertise in surgical robotics, advanced mechanical design, and experience with modular medical instrument systems, possessing knowledge of articulation mechanisms, robotic control systems, and surgical instrument adaptability

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the modular and reconfigurable wrist assembly represents a predictable evolution of existing surgical instrument design, leveraging known techniques of modularity, sensing technologies, and adaptive control systems to enhance the functionality of the source patent's articulation assembly. The proposed variations are logical extensions of existing robotic surgical instrument technologies, applying well-understood principles of system flexibility and real-time optimization to the specific context of surgical instrument design.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Wrist assembly with first and second outer links and inner links for articulating an end effector
PTD Variation
Modular wrist assembly with interchangeable end effectors and reconfigurable actuation mechanisms
Obviousness Reasoning
A PHOSITA would find it obvious to modify the existing articulation mechanism to enable modularity, as interchangeable components are a standard design approach in medical instrument engineering to increase versatility and reduce manufacturing costs
Source Patent Element
Drive mechanism configured for operation by a robotic surgical system
PTD Variation
Integration of sensing and feedback mechanisms with a control system for real-time performance optimization
Obviousness Reasoning
Adding sensor-based performance optimization is a predictable enhancement in robotic surgical systems, representing a known technique for improving instrument precision and adaptability
Source Patent Element
Surgical instrument with a wrist assembly connecting an end effector to an elongated shaft
PTD Variation
Wrist assembly compatible with multiple surgical procedures and robotic platforms
Obviousness Reasoning
Designing a universal, cross-compatible instrument interface is an obvious solution to increase system flexibility and reduce specialized equipment requirements
Source Patent Element
Surgical instrument with multiple links and articulation mechanisms
PTD Variation
Recalibration method for upgrading existing surgical instruments with modular wrist assemblies
Obviousness Reasoning
Developing upgrade paths for medical instruments is a standard engineering approach to extend equipment lifecycle and improve technological adaptability
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857188 and the principles of surgical instrument design, the claimed variations in the published technical disclosure would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention, as they represent predictable combinations of known techniques in robotic surgical system design, applying standard engineering approaches to enhance the modularity, adaptability, and performance optimization of existing articulation assemblies.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,188
TitleArticulation assemblies for surgical instruments
Assignee(s)INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.