Slotted Cylindrical Hinge for High-Deflection Steerable Instruments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steerable surgical instruments face limitations in bendability, requiring high bending forces and having limited fatigue life due to elastic deformation or separation of parts, making handling and assembly difficult.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical element with a hinge structure featuring slotted designs that allow for improved bendability, enabling high deflection without fatigue and maintaining structural integrity, using techniques like laser cutting to create integral parts of the intermediate elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional steering cables or elastic deformation methods are used, then the instrument can achieve bending capability, but the bending force required becomes excessively high and fatigue life is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical element is divided into multiple portions with hinges between them, allowing each portion to rotate relative to adjacent portions. This segmentation enables bending through rotational movement rather than elastic deformation, significantly reducing the force required and eliminating fatigue limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge structure transforms the static elastic deformation approach into a dynamic rotational mechanism. The hinges allow controlled rotation between portions, converting the bending action from a high-force elastic deformation process to a low-force rotational process that can be repeatedly applied without fatigue.
2Ease of operation
If elastic deformation or conventional hinge methods are used, then bending is enabled, but the hinge may separate or the structure loses integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge portions are designed with features that prevent separation before it can occur. The interconnected structure of the hinges and portions ensures that during bending operations, the components remain mechanically linked, preventing separation while allowing the necessary rotational movement for flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the cylindrical element into portions connected by hinges, the structure gains flexibility while maintaining integrity. Each portion remains structurally sound and connected to adjacent portions through the hinge mechanism, preventing separation while enabling controlled bending.
3Strength
If the cylindrical element is made fully rigid, then structural integrity is maximized, but bendability and maneuverability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical element is segmented into multiple portions with hinges, creating a structure that is rigid in individual segments but flexible as a whole. Each portion maintains structural integrity while the hinge connections enable bending, achieving both strength and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure transitions from a fully rigid configuration to a dynamically adaptable one through the hinge mechanism. The hinges allow controlled rotation between portions, enabling the instrument to adapt its shape for navigation while maintaining structural integrity in each segment.
4Ease of operation
If complex steering mechanisms are used to improve control, then maneuverability increases, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge structure merges the steering function into the cylindrical element itself, eliminating the need for separate steering cables or complex mechanisms. The hinges are integral to the structure, combining support and steering functions, which simplifies assembly while maintaining precise control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A cylindrical element with a hinge structure has:a first portion (524; 1124; 522(n−1); 1122(n−1));a second portion (522(1); 1122(1); 522(n); 1122(n)) which is rotatable relative to the first portion (524; 1124; 522(n−1); 1122(n−1)) about two rotation sections (530(1); 1130(1); 530(n); 1130(n)) arranged at locations 180° rotated relative to one another viewed in a tangential direction of the cylindrical element;an attachment element (502(1); 1006; 502(n)).The rotation sections (530(1); 1130(1); 530(n); 1130(n)) are implemented by:either the first portion (524; 1124; 522(n−1); 1122(n−1)) or the second portion (522(1); 1122(1); 522(n); 1122(n)) is provided with an opening accommodating a pin (556(1); 1156(1); 556(n); 1156(n));the pin (556(1); 1156(1); 556(n); 1156(n)) is attached to a portion of the attachment element (502(1); 1006; 502(n));the other one of the first portion (524; 1124; 522(n−1); 1122(n−1)) and the second portion (522(1); 1122(1); 522(n); 1122(n)) is attached to another portion of the attachment element (502(1); 1006; 502(n));such that the first portion (524; 1124; 522(n−1); 1122(n−1)) and the second portion (522(1); 1122(1); 522(n); 1122(n)) cannot move relative to one another in a longitudinal direction, a tangential direction and a radial direction but are configured to rotate relative to one another about a center of rotation.