Endocutter Drivetrain With Manual Bailout and Dual Jaw Clamping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic surgical instruments often face complexity, size, and weight issues due to the need for multiple mechanical inputs to perform various functions like grasping, cutting, and releasing tissue, which increases unwanted complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A surgical tool with a housing and elongate shaft featuring a closure tube and dual clamping assemblies that allow for controlled opening and closing of opposed jaws, with one assembly translating at a first speed and force, and the other at a second speed and force, along with a biasing feature for manual bailout and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mechanical inputs are added to perform various functions (grasping, cutting, releasing tissue), then functional versatility is improved, but device complexity, size, and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The closure tube is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls jaw closure, enables bailout (emergency release), and provides manual opening capability. By integrating these functions into a single component, the patent reduces the number of separate mechanical inputs needed while maintaining functional versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the bailout mechanism and manual opening feature with the primary jaw closure function within the same closure tube assembly. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate mechanical input systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mechanical inputs are added to perform various functions, then functional versatility is improved, but size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The closure tube serves as a multi-functional component that enables jaw closure, bailout, and manual opening operations. This universality eliminates the need for additional separate mechanisms, thereby preventing increases in instrument weight.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging multiple functions into the closure tube assembly, the patent avoids adding separate mechanical input systems that would increase the overall weight of the endoscopic instrument.
3Ease of operation
If dual clamping assemblies with different speeds and forces are used, then jaw closure control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure tube is divided into two distinct clamping assemblies, each with different mechanical characteristics (speed and force). This segmentation allows independent optimization of each assembly for specific functions while maintaining overall system manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
Each clamping assembly is designed with local quality differences - one optimized for speed (first clamping assembly) and the other for force (second clamping assembly). This allows each part to have the specific properties needed for its function without requiring the entire system to be complex.
4Reliability
If manual bailout capability is added, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bailout capability is merged with the primary jaw closure mechanism within the closure tube assembly. This integration allows the bailout function to be achieved without adding a completely separate mechanical input system, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure tube is designed as a multi-functional component that handles both normal jaw closure operations and emergency bailout scenarios. This universality allows a single mechanism to serve multiple purposes, reducing the need for additional complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of tool assemblies are provided having at least one rotary input coupling and at least one linear input coupling for allowing either a rotary output or a linear output (e.g., from a tool driver on a surgical robot) to activate at least one mechanism of the tool assembly. For example, mechanisms of the tool assembly can include a clamping assembly, a firing assembly, an articulation assembly, and a roll assembly. The clamping assembly can open and close jaws of an end effector, the firing assembly can translate a knife assembly through the end effector to fire staples and cut tissue, the articulation assembly can articulate the end effector, and the roll assembly can rotate the elongate shaft and/or the end effector.