Surgical Instrument Housing Rejoining for Repeatable Reprocessing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical instruments experience unreliability and inoperability due to wear and tear of interior components, and opening the housing to access these components damages the original fastening means, limiting reprocessing cycles.

Innovation Solution

A method involving opening the housing along a seam, servicing interior components, and applying a mating member to rejoin the housing, using components like pre-formed wires with adhesives, sleeves, or studs to create secure connections that allow repeated reprocessing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the housing is opened along the seam to access and service interior components, then the interior components can be maintained and serviced, but the original fastening means is damaged and cannot be reused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to interior componentsVSAvoidfastening means reusability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into two separable portions (first housing portion and second housing portion) that can be opened along the seam to access interior components. This segmentation allows easy access for servicing while maintaining the integrity of the fastening means through the reusable mating members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Reusable mating members (such as screws, clips, or other fastening mechanisms) are introduced as intermediary elements between the first and second housing portions. These mating members replace the original fastening means and can be repeatedly installed and removed without damage, enabling multiple reprocessing cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of moving object

If the housing is repeatedly opened and closed for servicing, then interior components can be serviced multiple times, but the original fastening means becomes damaged and limits reprocessing cycles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice life of surgical instrumentVSAvoidfastening means integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The original fastening means is effectively discarded after initial assembly, and reusable mating members are recovered and applied for subsequent reprocessing cycles. This allows the housing to be opened and closed multiple times without degrading the fastening mechanism, extending the service life of the surgical instrument.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The original fastening means is treated as a single-use component that is replaced by durable reusable mating members. This approach allows multiple reprocessing cycles by using the reusable mating members that can withstand repeated installation and removal without damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Strength

If the housing is joined to resist opening along the seams, then the surgical instrument prevents inadvertent disassembly, but opening the housing damages the fastening means

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehousing connection strengthVSAvoidhousing accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The housing connection transitions from a static, permanent join to a dynamic, reversible connection using reusable mating members. These mating members provide strong connection when closed but can be easily removed when opening is required for servicing, enabling both strong assembly and easy disassembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Reusable mating members are pre-installed on one of the housing portions before assembly. This preliminary action ensures that when the housing needs to be opened for servicing, the mating members are already in place and can be easily removed without damaging the housing or fastening means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enables repeated reprocessing of surgical instruments, extending their lifespan, reducing waste, and lowering ownership costs by facilitating repeated access and servicing of interior components without damaging the housing's original fastening means.

Implementation Method 1

The mating member may comprise a pre-formed wire and an adhesive disposed on the pre-formed wire. The step of joining together the housing with the mating member may comprise the step of bonding the adhesive to the housing along both of the pair of opposing edges to join together the housing.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS20260108323A1Methods Of Reprocessing A Surgical Instrument And Corresponding Reprocessed Surgical Instruments

Publication Date: 2026.04.23 STRYKER SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS

AI summary

Methods and devices for reprocessing a surgical instrument are disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a housing defining a cavity and at least one interior component disposed within the cavity. The housing is opened along a seam to access the cavity, the at least one interior component is serviced, and a mating member is applied to the housing. The housing is joined together with the mating member, and the housing is reopened along the seam to access the cavity.