Supply line for a robotic arm instrument

Abstract

A surgical robotic arm drape, the drape comprising: a sheet defining a cavity for housing a robotic arm; and a set of guiding elements attached to the sheet configured to retain a supply line threaded there through for use in a surgical procedure.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A surgical robotic arm drape, the drape comprising:
 a sheet defining a cavity for housing a robotic arm; and   a set of guiding elements attached to the sheet configured to retain a supply line threaded therethrough for use in a surgical procedure.   
     
     
         44 . A surgical robotic arm drape as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the set of guiding elements are spatially arranged on the sheet so that a supply line threaded therethrough is positioned for use in the surgical procedure when the drape houses the robotic arm. 
     
     
         45 . A drape as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein each of the guiding elements in the set defines a loop of material for receiving the threaded supply line, or a conduit portion for receiving the threaded supply line. 
     
     
         46 . A drape as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein each of the guiding elements comprises a housing defining a channel for receiving the threaded supply line. 
     
     
         47 . A drape as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the drape further comprises a second set of guiding elements for retaining a second supply line for use in a surgical procedure. 
     
     
         48 . A drape as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the drape further comprises a supply line threaded through the set of guiding elements. 
     
     
         49 . A drape as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the set of guiding elements are integral with the sheet. 
     
     
         50 . A drape as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the set of guiding elements are detachable from the sheet. 
     
     
         51 . A drape as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the set of guiding elements are attached to an interior surface of the sheet, and the sheet comprises a sealable opening located at a distal end of the cavity through which a terminal end of the supply line can pass. 
     
     
         52 . A drape as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the guiding elements are arranged to permit relative motion of the supply line and sheet. 
     
     
         53 . A drape as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein each of the guiding elements is rotatably connected to the sheet. 
     
     
         54 . A surgical robotic system, comprising:
 a surgical robotic arm having a surgical instrument attached thereto;   a surgical robotic arm drape comprising a sheet defining a cavity that houses the robotic arm, and a set of guiding elements attached to the sheet for retaining a supply line for use in a surgical procedure; and   a supply line threaded through the set of guiding elements for use in a surgical procedure.   
     
     
         55 . A surgical robotic system as claimed in  claim 54 , wherein the set of guiding elements are positioned on the sheet so as to extend along the direction of the robotic arm. 
     
     
         56 . A surgical robotic system as claimed in  claim 54 , wherein the supply line is a power cable for supplying power to the surgical instrument, the power cable comprising a first terminal end for connecting to a power supply and a second terminal end for connecting to the surgical instrument, and the set of guiding elements are spatially arranged on the sheet so that the second terminal end of the power cable is positioned for connection to the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         57 . A surgical robotic arm drape for enveloping a portion of a robotic arm, the drape comprising:
 a sheet configured to define a cavity for housing a portion of a robotic arm, the sheet comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface; and   a supply line interposed between the interior and exterior surfaces of the sheet for use in a surgical procedure.   
     
     
         58 . A drape as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the supply line is sandwiched between the interior and exterior surfaces of the sheet. 
     
     
         59 . A drape as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the supply line is housed within a channel defined by material of the sheet, the channel being interposed between the interior and exterior surfaces of the sheet. 
     
     
         60 . A drape as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the supply line terminates at a first of its ends in an instrument connector configured to connect to a robotic-arm instrument, and traverses the exterior surface of the sheet proximal to the instrument connector. 
     
     
         61 . A drape as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the drape is arranged so that, when defining an elongate cavity, the supply line extends along a longitudinal extent of the cavity and extends between an opening mouth of the cavity for housing a basal portion of the robotic arm and a distal end of the cavity for housing a distal portion of the robotic arm. 
     
     
         62 . A drape as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the supply line is a power cable for supplying power to a surgical instrument, the power cable comprising a conductive core surrounded by a sheath formed from material of the sheet, wherein the material of the sheet interfaces directly with the conductive core.