Concentric Surgical Instrument Assembly for Single-Handle Operation

Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical instruments require multiple actuating mechanisms for each functional component, leading to complex arrangements and increased size, which complicates their use in both endoscopic and open surgical procedures.

Innovation Solution

A surgical instrument design featuring a housing with concentrically arranged drive shafts and sleeves, a rotatable nose wheel, and an actuator assembly that allows for simultaneous rotation and translation of multiple components, minimizing the instrument's size while maintaining functionality, enabling operation in both bipolar and monopolar modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple actuating mechanisms are provided for each functional component, then the functionality and versatility of the surgical instrument is improved, but the device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidarrangement of actuating mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple actuating mechanisms are merged into a single integrated housing structure. The concentric arrangement of drive shafts and sleeves within a common housing consolidates what would traditionally be separate mechanisms into one unified device, allowing multiple functions to be actuated from a single handle while maintaining individual control of each functional component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a nested configuration where drive shafts and sleeves are arranged concentrically within one another. The first drive shaft is disposed within the shaft, the second drive shaft is disposed within the first drive shaft, and sleeves are nested within the housing structure. This nesting allows multiple actuating mechanisms to be compactly arranged without increasing overall device size or complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple actuating mechanisms are provided for each functional component, then the functionality of the surgical instrument is improved, but the instrument size and diameter increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidinstrument size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a nested configuration where drive shafts and sleeves are arranged concentrically within one another. The first drive shaft is disposed within the shaft, the second drive shaft is disposed within the first drive shaft, and sleeves are nested within the housing structure. This nesting allows multiple actuating mechanisms to be compactly arranged without increasing overall device size or complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of arranging actuating mechanisms in a linear or planar fashion that would increase instrument length or width, the patent utilizes the radial dimension by arranging drive shafts and sleeves concentrically. This three-dimensional arrangement allows multiple mechanisms to coexist within a compact cylindrical housing, minimizing the instrument's external dimensions while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If a single-handle operation is implemented, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesingle-handle operationVSAvoidinternal mechanism arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple actuating mechanisms are merged into a single integrated housing structure. The concentric arrangement of drive shafts and sleeves within a common housing consolidates what would traditionally be separate mechanisms into one unified device, allowing multiple functions to be actuated from a single handle while maintaining individual control of each functional component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The internal mechanisms are segmented into distinct concentric components (shaft, first drive shaft, second drive shaft, sleeves) that can be independently controlled. Each drive shaft and sleeve is configured to actuate specific functional components, allowing the single handle to control multiple functions through segregated, independently operable segments within the unified housing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20210161585A1Multi-function surgical instruments

Publication Date: 2021.06.03 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

A surgical instrument including housing having a shaft extending distally therefrom, an outer sleeve disposed about the shaft and selectively translatable relative to the shaft, a first drive shaft disposed within the shaft and translatable relative to the shaft independently of the outer sleeve, a second drive shaft disposed within the first drive shaft and coupled to the outer sleeve to translate in conjunction with the outer sleeve, and a rotatable nose wheel. The rotatable nose wheel is mounted about a distal end of the housing and is rotatably coupled to each of the outer sleeve, the shaft, the first drive shaft, and the second drive shaft such that rotation of the rotatable nose wheel effects corresponding rotation of the outer sleeve, the shaft, the first drive shaft, and the second drive shaft in conjunction with one another and relative to the housing.