In many robotic surgeries, a series of arms are tightly positioned above the operating table. Inside the end effectors that handle the instruments and imaging devices, crossed roller bearings (CRBs) not only must provide precise rotational motion to enhance the surgeon’s dexterity and avoid harmful collisions, they must also fit into increasingly smaller designs. CRBs are well-suited for end effectors because they can achieve the precise rotary motion needed with just one compact bearing. This blog post will describe the space-saving benefits CRBs provide end effectors, using IKO CRBs as examples.

CRB Benefits for End Effectors
Crossed roller bearings are designed with rollers alternately crossed at right angles to each other between inner and outer rings to make greater contact with the raceways. This evenly distributes the load to allow the bearing to handle loads from any direction at the same time, ensuring precise positioning and smooth motion. Not only does this arrangement make them well-suited for robotic systems, it also helps keep size requirements to a minimum — a key consideration for end effectors. Here’s how these IKO CRB design elements enhance the operation of ever-shrinking end effectors used in surgical robots:

• Small outside diameters. IKO offers bearings that have a small outside diameter, compared to the bore diameter, and a narrow width.
• Slim units with separators. Designed to suit the tightest space requirements, Slim CRBs are also available with separators between the rollers to economize driving power and also allow for even smoother motion. One example, IKO’s Super Slim CRBs, are just 5.5 millimeters high and 5 millimeters wide.
• Super slim with mounting holes. IKO CRBTF with mounting holes eliminate the need for special housings or fixing plates, which saves valuable space in the end effector design.
• Clean and customizable. Available in a wide choice of sizes and with a variety of options to fit various rotating mechanisms, IKO CRBs can also be outfitted to prevent contamination in operating room environments, such as with synthetic rubber seals. Stainless steel CRBs are available upon request.

Achieve Good Outcomes and Ensure Patient Safety
Specifying an ideal CRB for your surgical-robot end effector often comes down to determining the smallest unit to carry out the function and load with the highest precision. With IKO’s comprehensive line of CRBs and experienced engineers to help you make the best selection, you can give your surgical-robot end effector the precision and benefits of CRBs in compact and thin sizes. The result: precise, steady, hand-like motion to achieve good outcomes and ensure patient safety.

For more information about IKO CRBs for surgical-robot end effectors, please visit our product page.