Design of a novel tendon-driven manipulator structure based on monolithic compliant rolling-contact joint for minimally invasive surgery

Purpose Compliant mechanisms are commonly used in the design of manipulator and surgical robotic tools for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) thanks to their compactness, ability of miniaturization and lower part count. However, conventional compliant joint has higher internal stiffness, which limits the bending radius. To overcome this problem, a novel tendon-driven manipulator structure based on monolithic compliant rolling-contact joint (CRCJ) is proposed. Methods The proposed rolling-contact mechanism is used to prevent cable slack during actuation, which occurs in conventional compliant joint design. By means of selective laser sintering (SLS) technique, the CRCJ can be fabricated in a monolithic structure, thus granting the CRCJ both the advantages of compliant joints and rolling-contact mechanism. Simulations with nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) and experiments were conducted to evaluate and compare the mechanical properties of the proposed CRCJ with conventional leaf-type compliant joint including the bending and compliant motion. Results Experimental results showed that the CRCJ has lower bending stiffness, higher maximum bending angle (over $$180^{\circ }$$ 180 ∘ ) and a higher compliance compared to conventional compliant hinges, which allows a larger workspace and reduces the possibility of tissue injury. Agreement was also found between the nonlinear FEA and experiments regarding the relation between actuation force and bending angle. A primary prototype of a 3-DOF handheld laparoscopic manipulator with a diameter of 7 mm was further developed. Conclusion A dexterous tendon-driven monolithic manipulator structure based on CRCJ for MIS is proposed. A preliminary prototype of a handheld laparoscopic manipulator demonstrates the capability of the CRCJ for steerable medical devices. However, design improvements based on FEA and application-orientated prototypes considering anatomical requirements still show room for improvements.

Generalized Modeling of Soft-Capture Manipulator with Novel Soft-Contact Joints

The space-borne manipulator has been playing an important part in docking tasks. Docking collision can easily lead to instability of both the manipulator and floating base. Aiming at the problem of soft capture, a novel soft-contact joint with dual working modes is developed, especially to buffer and unload the spatial collision momentum. Furthermore, considering a series-wound soft-capture manipulator with multi-joints, a generalized modeling method was established by using the Kane approach. Both the benefits of soft-contact joint and the effectiveness of dynamics equations are verified in MATLAB and Adams software by simulations of a two-joint manipulator with eight-DOF. The comparative simulation results showed the advantages of the proposed soft-contact joint in reducing instability from spatial impact.

Development of a new technology of welding of high speed movement rails

Results of the study of welding modes influence following isothermal exposure of rail steel samples, made by admission of alternative current pulses after the welding quoted. The welding of the samples was made under laboratory conditions using the modernized machine for contact joint welding МС-2008М.Based on laboratory study data a method of contact joint welding, protected by a RF patent, was developed, enabling to obtain a welding connection of parts made of rail steel with uniform hardness distribution and small zone of thermal influence, meeting the elaborated by JSC EVRAZ ZSMK technical specifications for perspective welded joint connection of R65 rails of DT350 category. The proposed method enables to control the structure of welded rails connection without additional local thermal treatment.