APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SURGICAL INSERTION OF AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE

摘要

A surgical apparatus (200) for insertion of an implantable device within the body of a subject comprises a housing (204) in which an insertion head portion (206) is mounted and adapted to releasably hold an implantable device (102). An electro-mechanical actuator (212) mounted within the housing (204) comprises a shaft (216) movable between first and second stop positions (222, 214) in response to signals applied at an electrical input. A mechanical coupling between the insertion head portion (206) and the shaft (216) is configured such that movement of the shaft from the first stop position (22) to the second stop position (214) applies an insertion force to the insertion head portion. An electronic controller (502) is configured to apply an electrical control signal (506, 508) to the electrical input of the actuator (212), wherein the electrical control signal is adapted to cause application of an insertion force having predetermined characteristics to the insertion head portion (206), for insertion of the implantable device (102). The apparatus enables improved precision of insertion velocity control, which is difficult to achieve with purely mechanical or pneumatic approaches. Furthermore, the control signals generated by the electronic controller may beneficially be varied and adapted to accommodate a range of insertion conditions.