Medical Actuator Locking Handle for Precise Elevator Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices, such as duodenoscopes, lack effective locking mechanisms for actuators, leading to operator fatigue and difficulty in maintaining desired positions of components like elevators.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a handle with a rotatable actuator and a radially movable lock that interacts with a stationary rack gear to lock or unlock the actuator in desired positions, allowing for easy adjustment and retention of the elevator's orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If no locking mechanism is provided for the actuator, then the device structure remains simple, but operator fatigue increases and difficulty in maintaining desired positions occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism automatically engages when the actuator is rotated to a desired position and locked by the rack and pinion interaction, eliminating the need for constant manual retention and reducing operator fatigue without requiring complex additional components
Solution Approach 2:
The lock transitions between locked and unlocked states dynamically based on actuator rotation, allowing easy adjustment when needed while maintaining secure positioning automatically, balancing operational ease with structural simplicity
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is implemented, then operator fatigue is reduced and actuator position is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is merged with the existing rack and pinion mechanism, where the rack teeth on the actuator interact with the pinion gear to provide automatic locking, eliminating the need for separate locking components and maintaining device simplicity while improving positioning reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The rack and pinion mechanism serves dual functions: transmitting rotational motion to linear motion for actuator control and providing automatic locking through tooth engagement, reducing the need for additional specialized locking components
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A handle of a medical device may comprise an actuator; a lock movable relative to the actuator and having a feature movable relative to the actuator; and a rack having plurality of teeth separated from one another by a plurality of gaps. The lock may be configured to move the feature from (a) a first configuration, in which the feature is disposed in the gap, between two of the plurality of teeth, such that the two teeth inhibit the actuator from rotating; to (b) a second configuration, in which the feature is disposed outside of the gap, such that the actuator is rotatable. In the second configuration, the teeth may be disposed between the feature and the actuator.