A customized ball spline is currently used in a robot that assists in orthopedic surgery, giving the surgeon greater precision than the human hand. The surgeon preprograms the movements of the ROBODOC Surgical Assistant. The ball spline controls the vertical movement of the robotic arm as the robot mills the patient’s bone precisely as planned. This robotic arm also has a rotary function. The nut that rolls on the ball spline shaft is capable of both a linear and rotary motion. This allows it to adjust to the exact locations of the pre-surgical plan providing submillimeter accuracy every time.
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