Adapter Assembly for Surgical Devices with Nested Drive Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adapter assemblies for surgical systems increase the overall length and distal displacement of the center of gravity, leading to increased torque on the user's hand, wrist, and arm, making the use of electromechanical surgical devices tiresome and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
The adapter assembly includes a housing with a force/rotation transmitting/converting assembly that connects the surgical device's rotatable drive shaft to the loading unit's axially translatable drive member, utilizing a bearing assembly and articulation bars to convert rotation into axial translation, thereby reducing the overall length and shifting the center of gravity proximally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an adapter assembly is used to interconnect the electromechanical surgical device with the surgical loading units, then mechanical and electrical connection is established, but the overall length of the electromechanical surgical system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter assembly incorporates nested structural elements where the bearing assembly is positioned within the adapter housing, and the force transmitting member is contained within the bearing assembly. This nesting arrangement allows multiple functional components to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, thereby reducing the overall length of the adapter assembly while maintaining all necessary mechanical and electrical connection functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter assembly utilizes three-dimensional spatial optimization by arranging components along multiple axes rather than purely linearly. The bearing assembly is positioned radially offset from the central axis, and the force transmitting member extends at an angle, effectively using volumetric space more efficiently and reducing the distal-proximal length while preserving connection integrity.
2Reliability
If the overall length of the electromechanical surgical system increases, then connection functionality is maintained, but the center of gravity is displaced distally
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting the bearing assembly and force transmitting member within the adapter housing volume rather than extending them linearly, the center of gravity of the entire surgical system is pulled proximally toward the user's hand. This compact nested arrangement reduces the moment arm distance while maintaining all connection functionalities.
3Reliability
If the center of gravity is displaced distally, then adapter assembly structure is established, but torque on user's hand, wrist and arm is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The nested arrangement of components within the adapter assembly reduces the overall length and shifts the center of gravity proximally, thereby reducing the torque moment arm. This structural optimization maintains adapter functionality while minimizing the rotational force required at the user's wrist and hand.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing assembly replaces a purely mechanical linkage system with a bearing-based rotational interface, reducing friction and mechanical resistance. This substitution decreases the force required to operate the adapter assembly, reducing torque on the user's hand, wrist, and arm while maintaining structural integrity.
4Reliability
If a force/rotation transmitting/converting assembly is used to convert rotation to axial translation, then drive shaft connection is established, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing assembly serves as an intermediary mechanism that simplifies the force/rotation transmission. Instead of requiring a complex direct conversion mechanism between the rotatable drive shaft and axially translatable drive member, the bearing assembly mediates this conversion through its rotational-capable structure, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable drive connection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces the overall length of the surgical system, shifting the center of gravity closer to the user, enhancing comfort and reducing fatigue during use by minimizing the torque exerted on the user's hand, wrist, and arm.
Implementation Method 1
a force/rotation transmitting/converting assembly for interconnecting a respective one drive shaft of the surgical device and a respective one axially translatable drive member of the loading unit. The force/rotation transmitting/converting assembly converts and transmits a rotation of the rotatable drive shaft of the surgical device to an axial translation of the axially translatable drive member of the loading unit
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to adapter assemblies for use with and to electrically and mechanically interconnect electromechanical surgical devices and surgical loading units, and to surgical systems including hand held electromechanical surgical devices and adapter assemblies for connecting surgical loading units to the hand held electromechanical surgical devices.