The Wide-Open Three-Legged Parallel Robot for Long-Bone Fracture Reduction

Abstract

Robotic reduction of long bones is associated with the need for considerable force and high precision. To balance the accuracy, payload, and workspace, we have designed a new six degrees-of-freedom three-legged wide-open robotic system for long-bone fracture reduction. Thanks to the low number of legs and their nonsymmetrical configuration, the mechanism enjoys a unique architecture with a frontally open half-plane. This facilitates positioning the leg inside the mechanism and provides a large workspace for surgical maneuvers, as shown and compared to the well-known Gough–Stewart platform. The experimental tests on a phantom reveal that the mechanism is well capable of applying the desired reduction steps against the large muscular payloads with high accuracy.