# How a Surgical Robot Attaches Tools and Stays Sterile > Intuitive Surgical's patent details a robotic surgical system that securely mounts medical instruments, transfers precise movements, and ensures sterility through a unique rotating drape mechanism. - **Patent:** US 12127807 - **Original title:** Surgical system instrument mounting - **Owner:** Intuitive Surgical Operations - **Granted:** 2024 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** medical_devices, robotics, mechanical, software ## What it does This surgical system uses a robot arm to hold and control medical instruments. It features an "instrument manipulator interface" that can attach and detach a medical instrument, placing it in a "mounted state." This interface has multiple "actuator outputs" that connect to matching inputs on the instrument, allowing the robot to transfer control forces, like opening and closing surgical jaws. A key feature is that these actuator outputs extend from the mounting surface in directions "substantially parallel to a shaft" of the medical instrument (Claim 1). Once mounted, the instrument and its interface can rotate together around a "roll axis" relative to the robot arm's end, which helps with precise movements during surgery. The system also includes a "sterile drape assembly" with a "rotatable seal" (Claim 1) to keep the surgical area clean even as the instrument rotates. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover surgical systems where instruments are permanently attached to the robot arm, as it specifies a "removably couple" mechanism. - Does not cover systems where the actuator outputs are not aligned parallel to the instrument's shaft, which is a specific claim requirement. - Does not cover systems without a sterile drape assembly that includes a rotatable seal between the instrument interface and the arm. - Does not cover systems where the instrument and its interface cannot rotate together about a roll axis relative to the arm's distal link. ## The clever bit The clever part is the combination of actuator outputs extending parallel to the instrument's shaft, allowing for a compact and robust connection, with a sterile drape assembly that includes a rotatable seal. This seal enables the instrument to spin freely around its "roll axis" without breaking the sterile barrier, which is essential for complex surgical maneuvers. ## Real-world examples 1. Intuitive Surgical da Vinci surgical systems 2. Other advanced robotic surgery platforms ## Why it matters This patent describes improvements to robotic surgical systems, which are crucial for minimally invasive procedures. By ensuring instruments can be securely attached, precisely controlled, and rotated while maintaining a sterile field, it contributes to safer and more effective surgeries. Such innovations help surgeons perform complex tasks with enhanced dexterity and vision, reducing patient recovery times and complications. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How a Surgical Robot Attaches Tools and Stays Sterile cover? Intuitive Surgical's patent details a robotic surgical system that securely mounts medical instruments, transfers precise movements, and ensures sterility through a unique rotating drape mechanism. ### Who owns patent US 12127807? Intuitive Surgical Operations owns this patent, granted in 2024. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on June 10, 2042, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent describes improvements to robotic surgical systems, which are crucial for minimally invasive procedures. By ensuring instruments can be securely attached, precisely controlled, and rotated while maintaining a sterile field, it contributes to safer and more effective surgeries. Such innovations help surgeons perform complex tasks with enhanced dexterity and vision, reducing patient recovery times and complications. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover surgical systems where instruments are permanently attached to the robot arm, as it specifies a "removably couple" mechanism. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12127807/surgical-system-instrument-mounting **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12127807 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How a Surgical Robot Arm's Wrist Moves Instruments](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12414825/surgical-arm) — This patent describes a specific design for the end part of a surgical robot arm, called the terminal portion, which uses a clever arrangement of three joints to precisely position and rotate surgical tools. - [Surgical Tool with Flexible, Articulating, and Rotating End Effectors](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10736702/activating-and-rotating-surgical-end-effectors) — This patent describes a surgical tool with a flexible tip that can bend in multiple directions and also twist, allowing surgeons to precisely control instruments like graspers and cutters inside the body. - [How a Robotic Surgical Tool Clamps Tissue Manually and Automatically](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11786761/ultrasonic-robotic-tool-actuation) — This patent describes a surgical tool for robotic operations that can clamp tissue using a motor-driven yoke, but also allows a surgeon to manually control the clamping action. - [How Surgical Robots Reconfigure Their Arms Without Moving the Tool Tip](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9949801/systems-and-methods-for-commanded-reconfiguration-of-a-surgical-manipulator-usin) — This patent describes how a surgical robot arm can move and reshape itself to avoid obstacles or improve its position, all while keeping its surgical tool perfectly still at the patient's entry point or target. - [Uniform Scaling of Haptic Forces in Surgical Systems](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12114954/uniform-scaling-of-haptic-actuators) — This patent describes a surgical system that uses a single scaling factor to adjust the strength of touch feedback from multiple motors, ensuring the feedback feels consistent even when one motor reaches its maximum power.