0DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-6, 11, 13 & 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Janna et al. (WO 2020/185930).
Janna et al. discloses;
1.
A robot device (robotic arm system 510; Figs. 8-9) comprising:
a first robot (e.g., via the disclosed robotic arm 520 comprising a plurality of arm sections, i.e. an elongated arm section 525, [0219]) including a base portion (522; Fig. 9) and a distal end portion (e.g., via the elbow joint 528 connected to the proximal end of the forearm section 527; [0219] & Fig. 9);
and a second robot (e.g., via the disclosed plurality of arm sections, i.e. the forearm section 527; [0219] & Fig. 9); supported by the distal end portion of the first robot (e.g., connection at the elbow joint 528; Fig 9), the second robot supporting a surgical tool to be inserted into a body of a patient (e.g., via the disclosed hand section 532 that is configured to receive/couple to a tool 534; [0219] & Fig. 9),
wherein the first robot is operated by a user by directly applying a force to the first robot ([0220]-[0221]).
2.
The robot device according to claim 1, wherein the first robot includes a lock mechanism that locks a joint (e.g., via the disclosed base 522 mounted via the use of clamps, suction, magnets, etc. [0219]).
3.
The robot device according to claim 2, wherein the lock mechanism includes an electromagnetic brake that unlocks the joint when applied with a voltage and locks the joint when applied with no voltage [0219].
4.
The robot device according to claim 2, wherein the lock mechanism is provided to the base portion [0219].
5.
The robot device according to claim 2, wherein the first robot includes a transmission that transmits a braking force from the lock mechanism to the joint (e.g., via the disclosed control system in the base 522 which provides applied-force to be applied to each joint, [0220]).
and the transmission transmits the braking force from the lock mechanism to the joint using at least one of a wire, a wire rope, a belt, a steel belt, a hydraulic pressure, a pneumatic pressure, a dielectric elastomer, or a shape memory alloy (e.g., via the disclosed use of hydraulic, pneumatic joints, [0220]).
6.
The robot device according to claim 5, wherein the transmission is provided to the base portion.
11.
The robot device according to claim 1, wherein the first robot has a size that allows a user to grip and operate the first robot with one hand, and the second robot is smaller than the first robot ([0217]; Figs 9 & 10)
13.
The robot device according to claim 1, wherein the first robot has five or more degrees of freedom (e.g., via the disclosed robotic arm having multiple degrees of freedom, i.e. seven degree of freedom in respect to the base 522, [0219]),
the second robot has four or less degrees of freedom, and the second robot includes an actuator and is actively driven ([0219]-[0220]).
16.
A robot system (robotic arm system 510; Figs. 8-9)
comprising: a robot device (e.g., via the disclosed robotic arm 520 comprising a plurality of arm sections, i.e. an elongated arm section 525, [0219]); and a support device (e.g., via the disclosed system having a control system 516, [0218]; Fig 8),
wherein the robot device (520) includes: a first robot (e.g., via the disclosed elongated arm section 525; [0219] & Fig 9) including a base portion (522) and a distal end portion (e.g., via the elbow joint 528 connected to the proximal end of the forearm section 527; [0219] & Fig. 9);
and a second robot (e.g., via the disclosed plurality of arm sections, i.e. the forearm section 527; [0219] & Fig. 9); supported by the distal end portion of the first robot (e.g., connection at the elbow joint 528; Fig 9, the second robot supporting a surgical tool to be inserted into a body of a patient (e.g., via the disclosed hand section 532 that is configured to receive/couple to a tool 534; [0219] & Fig. 9),
the first robot is operated by a user by directly applying a force to the first robot, and the support device (516) supports operation of the first robot by the user for aligning an insertion point of the surgical tool
and a remote center of motion of the surgical tool ([0218] & [0220]-[0221])
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NICOLE F JOHNSON whose telephone number is (571)270-5040. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, David Hamaoui can be reached at 571-270-5625. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NICOLE F JOHNSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3796
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