Endoscopic Jaw Assembly Articulation and Safety Lockout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromechanical surgical devices are costly to manufacture and operate, and their complex power transmission mechanisms can lead to unintended operation, potentially causing damage or injury due to inadvertent actuation.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device with a jaw assembly, articulating assembly, and drive shaft system that includes a gear element and pivoting gear element, allowing for controlled longitudinal movement and rotation of the jaw assembly, featuring a motor-driven handle assembly with stop mechanisms to prevent backdrive and ensure safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex power transmission mechanisms are used to transmit power from handle assemblies to disposable loading units, then the surgical device can achieve multiple functions (rotation, pivoting, clamping, fastener ejection), but the device complexity increases and the risk of inadvertent actuation rises
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical device is divided into reusable handle assemblies and disposable loading units that can be selectively connected and disconnected. This segmentation allows the complex power transmission mechanisms to be isolated in the reusable handle portion, while the disposable units contain simpler mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity and the risk of inadvertent actuation in disposable components.
Solution Approach 2:
A safety lockout assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the power transmission system and the disposable loading unit. This intermediary prevents inadvertent actuation by requiring specific conditions to be met before power can be transmitted, thereby enabling complex functionality while maintaining safety and reducing unintended operation risks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex power transmission mechanisms are used to enable multiple surgical functions, then operational versatility is improved, but manufacturing and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into reusable handle assemblies containing complex power transmission mechanisms and simpler disposable loading units, the manufacturing cost of disposable components is reduced. The expensive complex mechanisms are manufactured once in the reusable handles and can be used with multiple disposable units, lowering overall manufacturing and operational costs while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable handle assemblies are designed with universal power transmission mechanisms that can work with multiple different disposable loading units. This universality allows a single complex mechanism to serve multiple surgical functions across different disposable units, reducing the need to manufacture complex mechanisms for each specific function, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining operational versatility.
3Ease of operation
If reusable handle assemblies with motors are used to drive disposable loading units, then operational control is improved, but the risk of inadvertent actuation and potential injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
A safety lockout assembly serves as an intermediary between the motor-driven handle assembly and the disposable loading unit. This intermediary mechanism prevents inadvertent actuation by requiring specific conditions to be met before power transmission occurs, thereby maintaining operational control while enhancing safety and reliability against unintended operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety lockout assembly implements preliminary anti-action by preventing power transmission until proper conditions are verified. This preliminary prevention mechanism blocks inadvertent actuation before it can occur, allowing the motor-driven system to maintain operational control while ensuring safety against unintended operation and potential injury.
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 reduces the risk of unintended operation, enhances safety, and lowers manufacturing and operational costs by providing a reliable and cost-effective electromechanical surgical system with improved actuation control.
Implementation Method 1
The drive shaft includes a gear element that is meshingly engaged with a pivoting gear element. The pivoting gear element is fixedly coupled to the pivot pin. Longitudinal movement of the first drive shaft pivots the jaw assembly relative to the proximal joint member about a pivot axis defined by the pivot pin.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical device includes a jaw assembly, an articulating assembly and a drive shaft. The jaw assembly includes first and second jaws. The articulating assembly is removably coupled to a proximal end of the jaw assembly and includes a distal joint member, a proximal joint member, and a pivot pin. The pivot pin is fixedly coupled to the distal joint member and is rotatably coupled to the proximal joint member. The jaw assembly and the distal joint member together define a first longitudinal axis. The proximal joint member defines a second longitudinal axis. The drive shaft includes a gear element that is meshingly engaged with a pivoting gear element that is fixedly coupled to the pivot pin. Longitudinal movement of the first drive shaft pivots the jaw assembly relative to the proximal joint member about a pivot axis defined by the pivot pin.