The right surgical tool in the right pair of hands can save a life. However, surgical tools need to be sanitized after every use, and cleaning each scalpel, surgical clamp, retractor, and suction pump can be a tedious (and dangerous without the proper protection) task. Our goal was to utilize a robotic arm to sort different surgical tools in the desired autoclave bin using muscle inputs. In these autoclaves, the tool would be exposed to pressurized steam, sterilizing it.
Our team of four was split into two sub-teams. The computing duo was in charge of programming the robotic arm to respond to grab the container and place it in the correct location according to the muscle inputs. My partner and I in the modeling team were tasked with designing a container that would hold the tool as it was being sorted and sterilized.
Over the course of five weeks, we went from defining what the optimal container would be with a specific set of objectives, to printing out the final iteration of our design. All the while enhancing our skills with CAD and design. In our final product, we decided to minimize how much of the container came in contact with the surgical tool. Exposing as much surface area of the tool as possible was ideal for effective sterilization. We were also focused on minimizing the usage of materials. The compactness of our design paired with the holes on every side reduce the material needed to produce the container as well as allow for steam to pass through to the tool.
You may have noticed the extrusions coming out the sides at the top of the container. These extrusions create a surface for the end-effectors of the robotic arm to brace against when they're holding onto the container. This allows for greater stability and maneuverability.
The forked supports inside of the container is where the surgical tool sits. As I've mentioned before, we tried to minimize the surface area of the tool that was in contact with the tool. These supports secure the tool in place while also allowing the tool to be sterilized effectively. Below you can see our container with the tool placed inside:
As happy as I am with our design for the supports, they wouldn't keep the tool in place if the container was turned upside-down. To secure the tool in any orientation, we implemented a stopper into one of the supports. After the tool is placed into the container, the stopper slides into its position and locks the tool in. The stopper itself is held in place by friction. You can see the stopper in more detail in the drawings shown below.
Our design is pretty complex, and it was difficult for us to include all of the dimensions. Chances are that we've missed some.