Dual-Handle Circular Stapler Assembly to Prevent Accidental Firing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circular staplers face issues with safety mechanisms that negatively affect operator experience and can lead to housing rupture due to excessive force, and lack structural design to limit initial handle angle, causing inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A handle assembly with a first and second handle, where the first handle is rotatably attached to the second handle via a pivot pin, featuring a sliding slot and slider mechanism that ensures the second handle can only be rotated when coupled, and limit portions prevent excessive angular deflection and accidental firing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lockout mechanism is added to prevent accidental firing, then safety is improved, but operator experience deteriorates and housing may rupture due to excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The handle assembly is divided into a first handle and a second handle that operate independently but are mechanically linked through the slider mechanism. This segmentation allows the safety function to be distributed across two separate control inputs, requiring coordinated action for firing while allowing individual handles to be manipulated freely for better operator control and experience.
Solution Approach 2:
A slider mechanism acts as an intermediary between the first handle and second handle. The slider translates the squeezing motion of the first handle into rotational motion of the second handle, mediating the interaction between the two controls. This intermediary mechanism ensures that accidental single-handle operations cannot fire the stapler while maintaining smooth, controlled operation when both handles are used correctly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the initial angle between handle and housing is large, then the handle has greater operational range, but assembly accuracy deteriorates and operator convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The handle assembly is pre-configured with a specific initial angle relationship to the housing that optimizes both operational range and assembly accuracy. The pivot pin and slider mechanism are preliminarily positioned to establish the correct geometric relationship between components, ensuring that the handle starts at the optimal angle for both manufacturing and operation without requiring additional adjustment steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle assembly incorporates dynamic elements including a pivot pin that allows rotational movement and a slider that provides controlled linear motion. These dynamic components enable the handle to transition smoothly from its initial angled position through its operational range, adapting to different firing positions while maintaining precise control and assembly accuracy throughout the motion arc.
Data Source
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AI summary
A handle assembly and an anastomat comprising the same. The handle assembly comprises a first handle (1) and a second handle (2); one end of the first handle (1) is provided with a first limiting portion (2), one end of the second handle (2) is provided with a second limiting portion, and the first limiting portion is located at a proximal end side of the second limiting portion; and when the first handle (1) is in an initial position, the second limiting portion is in conflict with the first limiting portion to hinder the rotation of the first handle (1) in a second direction. The handle is divided into two parts, only the rotation of the second handle (2) can trigger the anastomat, thereby avoiding the false triggering when the anastomat does not satisfy a triggering condition; and when in a failure state, the first handle (1) can still be gripped; meanwhile, since the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion are respectively disposed on the two handles, the angle of the first handle is limited from deflecting excessively at the initial position, and a initial position of the second handle (2) is also limited, so that the second handle (2) cannot rotate to trigger the anastomat when the first handle (1) is not rotated.