Surgical Handpiece Tip Geometry for Distal Bearing Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instrument handpieces face challenges in effective cleaning of distal ball bearings due to low flow resistance, leading to inadequate cleaning, and their size obstructs surgical visibility and access, necessitating improved design for minimally invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
The surgical instrument handpiece features a narrowed distal tip section with a controlled flow direction for cleaning fluid, optimized outer contour for improved surgical access, and internal rolling bearings with a continuous bearing cage for targeted fluid flow, enhancing cleaning efficiency and reducing instrument size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the instrument handpiece is cleaned with cleaning fluid flowing through the distal ball bearings, then the internal surfaces are rinsed, but the cleaning fluid flows almost exclusively through the inner rings due to low resistance, leaving the balls, cages, and spaces within the bearings inadequately cleaned
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing structure is segmented into distinct zones: a proximal zone with larger flow cross-section and a distal zone with narrowed cross-section. This segmentation creates different flow characteristics in different regions, forcing the cleaning fluid to pass through the ball bearings in the distal zone where it provides effective cleaning action.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft section is designed with non-uniform cross-sectional area along its longitudinal direction. The distal tip section has a narrowed cross-section specifically at the location of the distal ball bearings, creating localized flow acceleration and pressure increase precisely where cleaning is most needed, while other sections maintain larger dimensions for structural integrity.
2Length of moving object
If the surgical instrument handpiece is made smaller for minimally invasive procedures, then surgical access and visibility are improved, but the structural integrity and cleaning accessibility may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing cage is designed as a continuous structure that nests within the shaft section, creating a compact arrangement where the cleaning fluid flows through the annular space between the cage and the shaft inner surface. This nested configuration allows effective cleaning of bearing components while maintaining a compact overall instrument size suitable for minimally invasive procedures.
3Reliability
If a separate rinsing device is used to clean distal ball bearings, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but the device complexity and handling procedures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning functionality is merged into the instrument handpiece itself through the integrated shaft section design with controlled flow cross-section. The handpiece structure incorporates flow channels and bearing arrangements that work together to guide cleaning fluid through all critical components, eliminating the need for separate rinsing devices and simplifying the reprocessing workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft section serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the instrument, guides the cleaning fluid flow, and incorporates the bearing assembly for tool rotation. This multi-functional design allows a single component to achieve what previously required separate dedicated cleaning devices.
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 design ensures thorough cleaning of distal ball bearings, maintains sufficient rinsing pressure, and improves surgical visibility, simplifying Central Sterile Supply Department processes while reducing errors and costs.
Implementation Method 1
the instrument handpiece or its hollow body is rinsed with a cleaning fluid, especially a cleaning solution. This internal rinsing with the cleaning fluid is intended to loosen and remove dirt particles that have accumulated on the internal surfaces and/or parts of the hollow body or instrument handpiece
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a surgical instrument handpiece (1) for a surgical instrument, an associated surgical instrument, an associated medical product set having the surgical instrument handpiece (1) in combination with at least one accessory, an associated rinsing device, as well as an associated cleaning method for the internal flushing of the surgical instrument handpiece (1). The surgical instrument handpiece (1) comprises a handle section (7) for proximal handling by an operator and a shaft section (8) which extends from the handle section (7) in a distal longitudinal direction, wherein a tool is or can be arranged by a user in a distal outlet opening (40) of the shaft section at the distal end opposite the handle section (7), characterised in that the shaft section (8) has at least one distal tip section (10) with a reduced cross-sectional area in the region of the distal outlet opening (40).