Medical Device Handle Assemblies for Rotation and Deflection Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical devices face challenges in providing intuitive control and placement within a subject during minimally invasive procedures, leading to prolonged procedures and potential injury due to device failure or breakage.

Innovation Solution

A medical device with a handle assembly that includes a movable body and a fixed body, allowing for rotation and deflection of an end effector relative to a shaft, facilitated by actuators and actuation wires, enabling precise control and positioning through a combination of rotation and deflection mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a medical device uses a fixed handle assembly, then the device structure is simple, but the control and positioning capability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol and positioning capabilityVSAvoidhandle assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handle assembly is divided into a fixed body and a movable body that can rotate relative to each other. The movable body includes an actuator that can be independently operated, allowing separate control of the end effector's rotation and shaft orientation. This segmentation enables intuitive control while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If the handle assembly allows independent rotation and deflection control, then the positioning precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidactuation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A movable body acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user's manual input and the end effector. This movable body translates simple rotational movements into coordinated rotation and deflection of the end effector and shaft, achieving precise positioning while keeping the actuation mechanism relatively simple through mechanical advantage and kinematic coupling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If the medical device uses complex actuation mechanisms, then the control precision is improved, but the risk of device failure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoiddevice failure risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The actuation mechanism is designed with localized functional zones where specific components handle specific tasks. The fixed body provides stable mounting, the movable body handles rotation control, and the actuator handles deflection control. This distribution of functionality reduces stress concentration and potential failure points, improving reliability while maintaining control precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4076227B1Medical device handle assemblies
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 BOSTON SCI LTD
  • EP4076227B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4076227B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4076227B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A medical device may include a handle including a fixed body and a movable body. The movable body may be movable relative to the fixed body. The medical device may include a shaft extending from the fixed body and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft. Rotation of the movable body relative to the fixed body may permit rotation of the end effector relative to the shaft, and rotation of the movable body with rotation of the fixed body may permit rotation of the end effector with the shaft. Deflection of the movable body relative to the fixed body may permit deflection of the end effector relative to the fixed body.