Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device for fixing a joint structure. The device for fixing a joint structure, according to one aspect of the present invention, comprises: a first slider for fixing a first directional joint movement state of a joint structure that includes a first joint element and a second joint element; a first locking member corresponding to the first slider; and a first corresponding locking member which operates relative to the first locking member and blocks a forward directional movement and a backward directional movement of the first slider.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for fixing a joint structure. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Joint motion may refer to the movement of at least one of two or more interconnected (mechanical) elements relative to the other ones. Such joint motion may be observed in various forms from human arms or legs to robotic arms of an industrial robot. 
         [0003]    In some cases, instruments (particularly surgical instruments) capable of joint motion are required to fix the joint motion state of the mechanical elements thereof. In order to fix the joint structure, there have been conventionally used devices or components configured with balls and sockets, which mainly rely upon the surface friction between two mechanical elements, as disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2011-3192 of the applicant(s) (the contents of which are to be regarded as being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety); a construction for fixing the motion state of a joint by fixing only wires for controlling the joint motion, as disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2010-115152 of the applicant(s) (the contents of which are to be regarded as being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety); or joint fixing constructions as disclosed in Korean Patent Application Nos. 2008-51248, 2008-61894, 2008-79126, 2008-90560, 2011-26243, 2011-29771 and the like of the applicant(s) (the contents of which are to be regarded as being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). However, such devices, components, constructions or the like have often been inadequate to efficiently achieve sufficiently firm fixation. 
         [0004]    Herein, the inventor(s) thus present a novel apparatus for fixing a joint structure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    One object of the present invention is to solve all the above problems in prior art. 
         [0006]    Another object of the invention is to provide a novel joint structure fixing apparatus having good fixing performance. 
         [0007]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus capable of effectively fixing a joint structure without relying upon surface friction. 
         [0008]    According to one aspect of the invention to achieve the objects as described above, there is provided a joint structure fixing apparatus, comprising: a first slider to fix a first directional joint motion state of a joint structure including a first joint element and a second joint element; a first lock member corresponding to the first slider; and a first counterpart lock member to act on the first lock member to block forward and backward directional movements of the first slider. 
         [0009]    In addition, there may be further provided other configurations according to the technical idea of the invention. 
         [0010]    According to the invention, there is provided a novel joint structure fixing apparatus having good fixing performance. 
         [0011]    According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus capable of effectively fixing a joint structure without relying upon surface friction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the overall appearance of a minimally invasive surgical instrument comprising a joint structure fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a detailed diagram illustrating a joint structure fixing apparatus  400  according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the appearance of a lock member  422  of a slider  420  and a counterpart lock member  424  outside thereof according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is another detailed diagram illustrating the joint structure fixing apparatus  400  according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    In the following detailed description of the present invention, references are made to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that the various embodiments of the invention, although different from each other, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, specific shapes, structures and characteristics described herein may be implemented as modified from one embodiment to another without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, it shall be understood that the locations or arrangements of individual elements within each embodiment may also be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is to be taken as encompassing the scope of the appended claims and all equivalents thereof. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements throughout the several views. 
         [0017]    Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to enable those skilled in the art to easily implement the invention. 
         [0018]    Meanwhile, it should be understood that the term “connection” herein encompasses a direct connection or an indirect connection (i.e., via separate components) between mechanical or other types of components. For example, a connection between two rotating components may be a direct connection formed by the engagement of corresponding gear elements or the like, but may also be an indirect connection via a separate component such as a cable or a groove. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the overall appearance of a minimally invasive surgical instrument comprising a joint structure fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0020]    Reference will be made to  FIG. 1 . The minimally invasive surgical instrument may comprise a shaft  100 ; an end effector  200  being connected to one end of the shaft  100  to perform surgery by using surgical tools (not shown) or functioning itself as a surgical tool; a joint unit  300  to connect the shaft  100  and the end effector  200  and to provide the end effector  200  with joint functionality; a joint structure fixing apparatus  400  according to the invention; and a handling unit  500  being connected to the other end of the shaft  100  and capable of being held and manipulated by a user. 
         [0021]    First, the shaft  100  may include a cavity therein to support and pass at least one wire or torque transmission member, in the same manner as those of the minimally invasive surgical instruments disclosed in the aforementioned Korean patent applications of the applicant(s). (The torque transmission member is mainly intended for the rolling motion of the end effector  200 , while the shaft  100  may function itself as the torque transmission member in some cases.) The shaft  100  may comprise at least one segment as necessary. Further, the shaft  100  may comprise a bend in at least a part thereof. 
         [0022]    Next, the end effector  200  may carry out joint motion, rolling motion, opening/closing motion and the like by the action of the at least one wire or torque transmission member passing from the handling unit  500  to the joint unit  300  via the shaft  100 , in the same manner as those of the minimally invasive surgical instruments disclosed in the aforementioned Korean patent applications of the applicant(s). The tip of the end effector  200  may be implemented in the form of a clamp, a grasper, a pair of scissors, a stapler, a needle holder, a hook-type electrode or the like. 
         [0023]    Next, the joint unit  300  may act together with the at least one wire or torque transmission member to allow the end effector  200  to carry out joint motion, rolling motion and the like, in the same manner as those of the minimally invasive surgical instruments disclosed in the aforementioned Korean patent applications of the applicant(s). 
         [0024]    Finally, the handling unit  500  may control the joint motion, rolling motion, opening/closing motion and the like of the end effector  200  according to the user&#39;s manipulation, in the same manner as those of the minimally invasive surgical instruments disclosed in the aforementioned Korean patent applications of the applicant(s). To allow for such control, the at least one wire or torque transmission member may be connected to the handling unit  500 . Meanwhile, as illustrated, another joint unit (i.e., a proximal joint unit), which may carry out joint motion to cause corresponding joint motion in the joint unit  300 , and the joint structure fixing apparatus  400  according to the invention, which may fix the joint motion state of the joint unit, may be provided between the handling unit  500  and the shaft  100 . The joint structure fixing apparatus  400  will be described in detail below. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a detailed diagram illustrating the joint structure fixing apparatus  400  according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0026]    Reference will be made to  FIG. 2 . In order to fix a joint structure formed by a first joint element  410  and a second joint element  411 , the joint structure fixing apparatus  400  may comprise a first slider  420  and a second slider  421 ; lock members included in each of the first slider  420  and the second slider  421 ; other lock members to engage with the lock members to implement fixation (the lock members will be further described below with reference to  FIG. 3 ); a first rail  440  and a second rail  441  to respectively guide the slides of the first slider  420  and the second slider  421 ; and a first link set  430 ,  431 ,  432  to connect the first joint element  410  and the first slider  420 , and a second link set  433 ,  434  to connect the second joint element  411  and the second slider  421 . 
         [0027]    First, the first joint element  410  and the second joint element  411  will be discussed. One of the first joint element  410  and the second joint element  411  may move in a pitch direction or a yaw direction in relation to the other (i.e., may carry out joint motion). According to one embodiment of the invention, the relative movement of the first joint element  410  and the second joint element  411  may cause joint motion of the joint unit  300 . In a specific example, the second joint element  411  may move in a pitch direction or a yaw direction in relation to the first joint element  410  so that the joint motion of the joint unit  300  may be caused by the action of a joint motion control wire (not shown) of which one end may be fixed to the second joint element  411  or another element moving therewith (not shown) and the other end may be fixed to the joint unit  300 . The first joint element  410  and the second joint element  411  may be connected to each other via a joint part A for relative yaw directional movement (which may be a joint part similar to  300  in  FIG. 3  of Korean Patent Application No. 2008-51248 of the applicant(s), for example) or a joint part B for relative pitch directional movement (which may be a joint part similar to  200  in  FIG. 3  of Korean Patent Application No. 2008-51248 of the applicant(s), for example). 
         [0028]    The first slider  420  and the second slider  421  will be discussed. The first slider  420  may slide along the first rail  440  only in forward and backward directions, and likewise the second slider  421  may slide along the second rail  441  only in forward and backward directions. The first rail  440  and the second rail  441  may be respectively shaped as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , so that the first slider  420  and the second slider  421  may slide in the corresponding grooves. The configurations of the first slider  420  and the second slider  421  or the first rail  440  and the second rail  441  may be diversely changed as long as the first slider  420  and the second  421  may slide without much wobble. 
         [0029]    Next, the first link set  430 ,  431 ,  432  and the second link set  433 ,  434  will be discussed. For the relative yaw directional movement of the first joint element  410  and the second joint element  411 , the first link set  430 ,  431 ,  432 , which may act together with the first slider  420 , may be provided to fix the state of the movement or release the fixation. The first link set  430 ,  431 ,  432  may comprise a plurality of (e.g., three) links. Each of the links may be a known Y-shaped link, a known U-shaped link composite, a known planar link or the like, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Meanwhile, the first link set  430 ,  431 ,  432  may be fixed and connected to a first link fixing member  450  of which one end may be attached to the first slider  420  and the other end may be attached to the first joint element  410 . The first joint element  410  or the second joint element  411  may move in a pitch direction by the action of the first link  430  and the second link  431  of the first link set  430 ,  431 ,  432 , and may move in a yaw direction by the action of the second link  431  and the third link  432  of the first link set  430 ,  431 ,  432 . Particularly, in the latter case, the first slider  420  may slide in forward and backward directions. Similarly, for the relative pitch directional movement of the first joint element  410  and the second joint element  411 , the second link set  433 ,  434 , which may act together with the second slider  421 , may be provided to fix the state of the movement or release the fixation. The second link set  433 ,  434  may comprise a plurality of (e.g., two) links. Each of the links may be a known planar link, a known Y-shaped link or the like, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Meanwhile, the second link set  433 ,  434  may be fixed and connected to a second link fixing member  451  of which one end may be attached to the second slider  421  and the other end may be attached to the portion where the joint part A and the joint part B are connected. The first joint element  410  or the second joint element  411  may move in a pitch direction by the action of the first link  433  and the second link  434  of the second link set  433 ,  434 . In this case, the second slider  421  may slide in forward and backward directions. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the appearance of a lock member  422  of the slider  420  and a counterpart lock member  424  outside thereof according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0031]    Reference will be made to  FIG. 3 . The first slider  420  may include a lock member  422  on the inner side surface thereof, and correspondingly, a counterpart lock member  424  outside thereof may also be provided. Therefore, a user may operate the outside counterpart lock member  424  to fix the first slider  420  so that it may not slide in forward and backward directions, when the joint formed by the first joint element  410  and the second joint element  411 , and further the joint of the joint unit  300  which may be interlocked with the former one, are required to be fixed in a yaw direction. (In this case, the motion state of the first link set  430 ,  431 ,  432  may also be fixed.) To this end, the lock member  422  may include a plurality of serrations, and the counterpart lock member  424  may be shaped such that it may be fitted into a portion of the serrations. Meanwhile, although not illustrated, the second slider  421  may also be provided with a lock member (not shown) and a counterpart lock member (not shown) so that the second slider  421  may be fixed in a pitch direction (and the motion state of the second link set  433 ,  434  may be fixed.) Therefore, a user may fix both the first slider  420  and the second slider  421  as necessary, thereby completely fixing the motion state of the joint formed by the first joint element  410  and the second joint element  411 , and further the joint motion state of the joint unit  300  which is interlocked therewith. Accordingly, for example, the motion state of the joint formed by the first joint element  410  and the second joint element  411  may be firmly fixed by the first link set  430 ,  431 ,  432  and the second link set  433 ,  434 , which hold the joint parts A, B therearound as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , as the first slider  420  and the second slider  421  are fixed. 
         [0032]    Meanwhile, in order to facilitate understanding of the invention, it has been mainly described above that the first slider  420  and the related elements, which may independently restrain the relative yaw directional movement of the first joint element  410  and the second joint element  411 , are employed together with the second slider  421  and the related elements, which may independently restrain the relative pitch directional movement of the first joint element  410  and the second joint element  411 . However, other configurations in which, for example, only one of the first slider  420  and the second slider  421  is employed, or three or more sliders not needing to independently restrain the relative pitch or yaw directional movement of the first joint element  410  and the second joint element  411  are employed together, may also be implemented by those skilled in the art, without limitation, according to the technical idea of the invention. 
         [0033]    Although the present invention has been described in terms of specific items such as detailed elements as well as the limited embodiments and the drawings, they are only provided to help more general understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains that various modifications and changes may be made from the above description. 
         [0034]    Therefore, the spirit of the present invention shall not be limited to the above-described embodiments, and the entire scope of the appended claims and their equivalents will fall within the scope and spirit of the invention. 
         [0035]    Particularly, in view of the technical idea of the present invention, it will be apparent that instruments to which the invention is applied shall not be limited to surgical instruments.