US 11,963,733 B2
Connector assemblies for connecting a robotic arm with a medical end effector
Antonio Ubach, Tuscon, AZ (US); John C. Love, San Diego, CA (US); and Cara Lee Coad, Longmont, CO (US)
Assigned to Nuvasive Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by NuVasive, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/539,587.
Prior Publication US 2023/0165651 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 34/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01); B25J 9/10 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 34/71 (2016.02) [A61B 17/70 (2013.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.02); B25J 9/1035 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00486 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for connecting a robotic arm with a medical end effector, the apparatus comprising:
a connector housing;
an actuation mechanism disposed within the connector housing, the actuation mechanism including a plurality of linkage members and a gear assembly coupled to the plurality of linkage members;
wherein each of the plurality of linkage members are configured to shift between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration;
wherein at least one of the plurality of linkage members includes a first linkage member having an end region;
wherein a roller member is disposed adjacent to the end region of the first linkage member;
an actuator coupled to the actuation mechanism, the actuator being configured to shift the plurality of linkage members between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration;
wherein the actuator includes a button coupled to a rack; and
an adapter coupled to the connector housing, the adapter including a plurality of alignment regions.