Drive-Housing Visual Indicators for Robotic Surgical Instrument Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional minimally invasive surgical (MIS) instrument indicators are mechanically powered by the tool driver, reducing overall functionality and are not easily recognizable, leading to expired instruments being accidentally reused due to sterilization workers' oversight, causing frustration, procedural delays, and additional patient sedation time.
Innovation Solution
A visual indicator assembly is integrated into the MIS instrument's drive housing, actuated by a capstan mechanism that provides a visible indication when the instrument's useful life is exhausted, without utilizing the tool driver, ensuring easy recognition and preventing reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional mechanically powered indicators are used, then the indicator can be powered by the tool driver, but the overall functionality of the MIS instrument decreases and the indicator is not easily recognizable
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator system is segmented into a separate visual indicator assembly that operates independently from the tool driver. The indicator assembly includes a visual indicator, capstan mechanism, and drive cable that are distinct from the tool driver components, allowing the indicator to function without compromising tool driver functionality for other surgical operations.
Solution Approach 2:
A capstan mechanism serves as an intermediary between the tool driver and the visual indicator. The capstan is actuated by the tool driver through a drive cable, translating the tool driver's motion into rotational motion of the capstan, which in turn actuates the visual indicator. This intermediary mechanism allows indirect actuation without direct mechanical coupling.
2Reliability
If conventional indicators are used, then the instrument can maintain its structure, but expired instruments are not easily recognized and may be accidentally reused
Solution Approach 1:
The visual indicator utilizes color changes to indicate the instrument's operational status. The indicator assembly includes a visual indicator that changes color or displays a visual signal when the instrument reaches its expiration point, making it easily recognizable and difficult to miss. This visual differentiation helps sterilization workers and surgical personnel quickly identify expired instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual indicator is actuated in advance before the instrument is actually used or disposed of. The indicator provides early warning when the instrument reaches its predetermined number of uses or expiration date, allowing sufficient time for proper disposal arrangements to be made and preventing accidental reuse.
3Device complexity
If conventional indicators are used, then the instrument structure remains simple, but procedural delays and additional patient sedation time occur due to discovery of expired instruments in the operating room
Solution Approach 1:
The visual indicator provides advance notification before the instrument is needed, allowing expired instruments to be identified and disposed of in advance. This preliminary action prevents the discovery of expired instruments during surgical procedures, eliminating the need for procedural delays and additional patient sedation time that would otherwise occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual indicator provides continuous feedback about the instrument's operational status throughout its lifecycle. The indicator remains visible and accessible, providing real-time information to sterilization workers and surgical personnel, ensuring that expired instruments are identified and removed from the inventory before they can cause procedural delays.
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 visual indicator effectively prevents the reuse of expired MIS instruments, reducing operational disruptions and ensuring proper disposal, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
a capstan assembly operatively coupled to the drive input such that rotation of the drive input correspondingly rotates the capstan assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical tool includes a drive housing, a drive input rotatably coupled to the drive housing, and an indicator assembly arranged within the drive housing. The indicator assembly including a capstan assembly operatively coupled to the drive input, an indicator mount secured to the drive housing, and an indicator shaft extending from the indicator mount. The surgical tool further including a drive gear mounted to the capstan assembly, and a driven gear arranged such that rotating the drive gear rotates the driven gear to undertake a function of the surgical tool. The capstan assembly is rotated with the drive input to undertake the function and further to actuate the indicator assembly between a non-activated state, where the indicator shaft is recessed into an indicator aperture defined in the drive housing, and an activated state, where the indicator shaft extends out of the drive housing via the indicator aperture.