Damped Attachment Tube for Precise Surgical Resection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vibrations in surgical instruments, particularly those used for resecting bone tissue near sensitive areas, cause chatter and instability, which can lead to imprecise procedures and user fatigue.
Innovation Solution
An instrument assembly with a damping member and adjustable attachment tube features that reduce vibrations by absorbing kinetic energy, utilizing a viscoelastic polymer like silicone rubber to dampen tool vibrations and chatter, allowing for precise control during procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a motorized instrument is used for resecting bone tissue, then the resection efficiency is improved, but vibrations and chatter increase causing imprecise procedures
Solution Approach 1:
A damping member is introduced as an intermediary element between the tool and the surgeon's hand. This damping member absorbs vibrations and chatter generated during motorized bone resection, allowing the high-speed cutting function to be maintained while eliminating the harmful vibrations that compromise precision. The damping member acts as a mediator that transmits necessary forces while filtering out detrimental vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibrations and chatter generated by the motorized instrument during bone resection are converted from harmful disturbances into beneficial damping effects. The damping member transforms the vibrational energy into heat through internal friction, converting the harmful mechanical vibrations into thermal energy that is dissipated, thereby eliminating the precision-compromising effects while maintaining the cutting efficiency.
2Speed
If a motorized instrument is used for resecting bone tissue, then the resection speed is improved, but user fatigue increases due to vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The damping member serves as an intermediary that isolates the surgeon's hand from the high-frequency vibrations generated during rapid bone resection. By positioning the damping member in the transmission path between the motorized tool and the user's hand, it filters out the vibrational disturbances while allowing the controlled motion to pass through, enabling fast resection speeds without transmitting fatigue-inducing vibrations to the user.
3Manufacturing precision
If vibration reduction features are added to the instrument, then the precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration reduction function is extracted as a separate, modular damping member that can be independently designed and attached to the instrument. Rather than integrating complex vibration control mechanisms into the main instrument structure, the damping member is taken out as a distinct component that performs the vibration filtration function, simplifying the overall design while maintaining precision improvement.
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 solution effectively minimizes tool vibrations and chatter, ensuring precise resection and reducing user fatigue, enabling smoother and more controlled surgical operations.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a viscoelastic polymer like silicone rubber to dampen tool vibrations and chatter
Implementation Method 2
reducing vibrations by absorbing kinetic energy
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 2~3A
Figure 3B~3C
AI summary
An assembly for holding a tool, comprising an attachment base (30) having (i) a motor housing connection configured to be operably coupled to a motor housing (16), and (ii) a tube connection bore (42); and an attachment tube (34) extending from a first terminal end (35) to a second terminal end (37), the attachment tube having a vibration reduction feature formed by at least a selected thickness of a wall of the attachment tube positioned between the first terminal end and the second terminal end; wherein the tool is configured to extend through the attachment tube and torque is transferred to the tool from a motor within the motor housing.