Endoscopic Stitching Machine Segmented Shaft for Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The large overall length of endoscopic stitching machines makes it difficult to sterilize components that come into contact with the body, as the drives and control elements are housed outside the body, complicating the sterilization process.
Innovation Solution
The housing shaft and transmission means are divided into sections that can be detachably connected using coupling pieces, allowing for a shorter functional distance between the housing and stitch-forming tools, facilitating sterilization by enabling the machine to be disassembled without tools and reassembled in a predefined correct position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the housing shaft and transmission means are made long to maintain functional distance between housing and stitch-forming tools, then the functional distance is preserved, but sterilization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing shaft is divided into multiple separable sections (first housing shaft section, second housing shaft section) that can be detached from each other. The transmission means are correspondingly segmented into sections that can be separated. This segmentation allows the sterilizable portions to be detached and sterilized separately, eliminating the constraint of the overall length and enabling effective sterilization of components that would otherwise be inaccessible in a long continuous structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission means are extracted from the continuous housing shaft structure and made into separable components. By taking out the transmission means as distinct, detachable elements, the system allows these components to be removed from the housing shaft for separate sterilization processing, solving the problem of sterilizing specific portions without needing to sterilize the entire long structure.
2Ease of operation
If the housing shaft is divided into sections with detachable connections, then sterilization ease is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing shaft and transmission means are segmented into standardized sections with matching connection interfaces. The first and second housing shaft sections have corresponding connection structures that align with each other, and the transmission means are divided into matching sections. This segmentation with standardized interfaces simplifies the detachment and reassembly process, reducing the operational complexity despite the increased number of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection structures are designed to enable tool-free detachment and reassembly of the housing shaft sections and transmission means sections. The self-servicing connection mechanism allows medical personnel to separate and reassemble the components without requiring additional tools or complex procedures, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining the benefit of separable sterilization.
3Ease of manufacture
If coupling pieces are used to connect transmission means sections, then reassembly without tools is enabled, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling pieces and connection structures incorporate asymmetric or uniquely shaped features that provide self-alignment during assembly. The transmission means sections have connection geometries that guide proper orientation and positioning when joined, ensuring correct alignment without requiring high manufacturing precision or additional alignment procedures. The asymmetric design prevents incorrect assembly while maintaining ease of tool-free connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling pieces are designed with self-aligning features that automatically position the transmission means sections correctly during assembly. The connection structures include guiding surfaces, shaped interfaces, or positioning elements that self-correct minor misalignments, reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements while enabling tool-free assembly by the end user.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscopic stitching machine, including a housing for mounting the actuators for the stitch-forming tools (needle, gripper and pressure pad), and a housing shaft to house one or more devices for the transmission of the movements generated by the actuators to the stitch-forming tools, whereby the housing shaft (3) and the transmission devices (9, 12, 13) are divided into two shaft parts (14, 15) and lower and upper transmission devices (9a, 12a, 13a and 9b, 12b, 13b), in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof, detachably connected to each other by means of a corresponding coupling piece (26), whereby the coupling pieces (26) may be introduced into and positively housed within corresponding recesses (32, 33) of the lower and upper transmission means (9a, 12a, 13a and 9b, 12b, 13b), parallel to the section plane and running in the longitudinal direction of the transmission devices (9, 12, 13).