Adjustable Collet Lever Orientation for Ergonomic Surgical Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical tools face challenges in efficiently and ergonomically engaging and aligning pins or wires due to manufacturing variations and tolerances, leading to suboptimal operation and user discomfort.
Innovation Solution
An actuator assembly with a lever arm that adjusts its orientation relative to the handle of a rotary power tool, utilizing an indexing locator and pivot pin to compensate for manufacturing variations, ensuring precise clamping and alignment of pins or wires, and incorporating a collet assembly with a locking interface for secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lever orientation is fixed in existing surgical tools, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the tool causes user discomfort and suboptimal operation due to manufacturing variations and tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing it to be repositioned to compensate for manufacturing variations. The lever can be moved between different angular positions relative to the handle, transforming from a static component to a dynamic one that adapts to tolerance variations in the assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The angular position parameter of the lever is made variable. By allowing the lever to be positioned at different angles relative to the handle, the system can optimize ergonomic operation despite variations in manufacturing tolerances of other components.
2Manufacturing precision
If manufacturing tolerances are tightened to eliminate the need for adjustment, then the operation becomes consistent, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than requiring all components to be manufactured with tight tolerances, the lever is designed with dynamic adjustability. This allows the final assembly precision to be achieved through positioning adjustment rather than through precision manufacturing of each individual component.
Solution Approach 2:
The system trades manufacturing precision requirements for operational adjustability. By allowing the lever angle to be varied, the design compensates for tolerance variations in a cost-effective manner compared to manufacturing all parts with tight tolerances.
3Ease of operation
If the lever position is adjusted to compensate for tolerances, then ergonomic operation is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is designed to rotate about an adjustable pivot point or along an adjustable axis. This dynamic capability allows the lever to be positioned optimally for user access and operation, improving ergonomics without requiring complex active control systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for adjusting an orientation of a lever arm of a collet assembly of a rotary surgical tool includes determining a travel or throw of the lever arm of an actuator lever of the collet assembly relative to a handle of the rotary surgical tool in one of a clamped position and a released position. The method further includes adjusting an orientation of a pivot pin of the apparatus about a pin axis and defining a lever axis about which the lever arm rotates. The orientation of the pivot pin relative to the collet assembly defines an offset direction of the lever axis relative to the pin axis.