Medical Instrument Holder With Shape-Memory Weight Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing holding devices for medical instruments with weight-relieving systems are bulky, heavy, and difficult to disassemble and autoclave for cleaning due to their volume and weight, limiting their usability in surgical settings.

Innovation Solution

A weight-relieving system utilizing a shape-memory alloy, such as NiTiNoI, configured as a resetting element with a plateau stress, allowing for a compact and lightweight design that can be easily disassembled and autoclaved, featuring a cable winch or spring element that expands without additional force and returns to its original shape, enabling force-free actuation of the bracket.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a traditional spring arrangement or counterweight system is used for weight relief, then the holding device can balance the bracket load, but the system takes up considerable volume and has great weight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight relief capabilityVSAvoidvolume of weight-relieving system

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical spring arrangement or counterweight system with a magnetic field-based active magnetic bearing system. The magnetic bearing uses electromagnetic forces to support and balance the bracket load, eliminating the need for bulky mechanical components while providing effective weight relief capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Force

If a traditional spring arrangement or counterweight system is used for weight relief, then the holding device can balance the bracket load, but the system has great weight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight relief capabilityVSAvoidweight of weight-relieving system

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical spring arrangement or counterweight system with a magnetic field-based active magnetic bearing system. The magnetic bearing uses electromagnetic forces to support and balance the bracket load, eliminating the need for heavy mechanical components while providing effective weight relief capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Force

If a traditional spring arrangement is used, then the weight-relieving system can balance the bracket load, but the holding device cannot be easily disassembled and autoclaved for cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight relief capabilityVSAvoidease of disassembly and cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical spring arrangement with an active magnetic bearing system that has fewer physical components requiring disassembly. The magnetic field-based system allows for easier separation and sterilization of components, improving the ease of manufacture and cleaning capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Weight of stationary object

If the holding device is made compact and lightweight, then it can be easily disassembled and autoclaved, but the weight-relieving system may not provide sufficient support

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of holding deviceVSAvoidbracket load support capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of stationary objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an active magnetic bearing system that provides full bracket load support through electromagnetic forces without requiring heavy mechanical structures. The magnetic field generates sufficient holding force while keeping the overall device compact and lightweight, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and load support capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 provides a compact, lightweight holding device that can be easily disassembled and autoclaved, allowing for efficient cleaning and maintenance while maintaining the ability to pivot the medical instruments freely, addressing the limitations of existing systems.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape-memory alloy effect: Shape Memory Alloy

Data Source

PatentUS9429204B2Holding device for medical instruments

Publication Date: 2016.08.30 KARL STORZ SE & CO KG

AI summary

A holding device for medical instruments, having a bracket on which at least one medical instrument can be affixed, at least one joint to position the bracket and a weight-relieving system to compensate the bracket load. The holding device is of compact and light structure and for cleaning purposes is completely autoclavable together with the bracket. The weight-relieving system is configured as a resetting element that is coupled with the bracket and is made of a material that essentially includes a plateau stress.