Biopsy Needle Assembly Reducing Motor Starting Load

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Solution Overview

Problem

Biopsy needle assemblies experience high starting loads when converting motor direction, leading to vibrations and noise during surgery, which can cause discomfort to patients.

Innovation Solution

A biopsy needle assembly design that incorporates a gear unit with a fixed and variable shaft gear, a sleeve with a thread-shaped screw, and compression springs to reduce the initial load on the motor by delaying the advancement or retreat of the cutter, thereby minimizing the starting load and noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the motor directly rotates the cutter without delay mechanism, then the cutting operation is fast and efficient, but the starting load is high causing vibration and noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting operation speedVSAvoidvibration and noise during starting

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The compression spring performs preliminary action by compressing in advance when the motor changes direction, storing elastic energy that is then released to delay the cutter's movement. This preliminary compression action creates a time delay between motor direction change and cutter movement, reducing the starting load impact on the patient during surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The compression spring acts as a cushioning element before the cutter engages with the tissue. When the motor reverses direction, the spring is compressed and then expands to delay the cutter's advancement or retreat, effectively cushioning the impact and reducing vibration and noise during the starting phase of the cutting operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Productivity

If the motor direction is changed quickly to advance/retreat the cutter, then the biopsy operation is efficient, but the inrush load on the motor is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiopsy operation efficiencyVSAvoidmotor starting power

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The compression spring is compressed in advance when the motor changes direction, storing energy that will be released to delay the cutter's movement. This preliminary action creates a buffer that reduces the inrush load on the motor during direction changes, allowing efficient biopsy operations without excessive power demands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The compression spring serves as an intermediary element between the motor and the cutter. It absorbs and releases mechanical energy during direction changes, mediating the interaction between the motor and cutter to reduce the inrush load on the motor while maintaining operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If the cutter advances or retreats immediately upon motor direction change, then the response time is short, but the starting load causes pain to the patient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse time of cutterVSAvoidpatient pain during surgery

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The compression spring performs preliminary compression when the motor changes direction, then releases this energy to delay the cutter's movement. This creates a time delay between motor command and cutter action, reducing the starting load impact on the patient's tissue during surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The compression spring provides beforehand cushioning by compressing and then expanding to delay the cutter's engagement with the tissue. This cushioning effect reduces vibration and noise during starting, thereby minimizing patient pain during the surgical procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

The design effectively reduces the starting load and noise of the motor, improving surgical accuracy and extending its lifespan by minimizing the initial load applied during motor direction changes.

Implementation Method 1

a compression spring (26-3) and a pair of spring guides (26-1, 26-2) disposed on both sides of the compression spring (26-3) to face each other, the spring guides (26-1, 26-2) defining a gap therebetween due to elastic force of the compressing spring (26-3)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a thread-shaped screw (25-1) provided on an outer surface of an intermediate portion between one portion and the other portion of the sleeve (25); a sleeve moving unit (24) corresponding to a thread of the screw (25-1) to serve as a nut of the screw (25-1) to linearly move the sleeve (25) in forward and backward directions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Data Source

PatentUS11471136B2Biopsy needle assembly for reducing starting load when motor changes direction

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 WOONS MEDICAL INC

AI summary

The present invention relates to a biopsy needle assembly and, more specifically, to a structure of a biopsy needle assembly for reducing a starting load which improves vibration and noise during a procedure and minimizes irritation to a lesion by, when a motor is operated to move a cutter forward/backward while rotating the cutter, stopping motor rotation and reducing an instantaneous load during an initial operation so as to reduce a firing (starting) load of the motor.