Interchangeable Medical Tool Tips With Two-Stage Toolless Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments require frequent tool changes and often need complete replacement due to bent or blunt tips, leading to inefficiencies in procurement, storage, and safety concerns during interventions.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument design with interchangeable tool tips featuring a first and second attachment portion that allow toolless attachment to an actuation device, enabling a two-stage attachment process through longitudinal displacement, ensuring secure and intuitive tool exchange without separate locking mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If surgical instruments are designed with interchangeable tool tips for frequent changes, then adaptability and productivity are improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple attachment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The tool tip is divided into a first tip part with a first attachment portion and a second tip part with a second attachment portion. The first attachment portion connects to a base body while the second attachment portion connects to a slide, creating segmented attachment zones that simplify the overall mechanism while enabling versatile tool tip interchangeability.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuation device is designed with a universal attachment system where the base body and slide both have standardized attachment portions that can securely hold different tool tip configurations. This multi-functional design allows the same actuation device to accommodate various surgical tools without requiring complex specialized mechanisms for each tool type.
2Ease of operation
If a two-stage attachment process is implemented with spaced attachment portions, then ease of operation is improved for toolless attachment, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The first attachment portion is designed to be attached first to the base body, establishing a preliminary secure connection. This preliminary action positions the tool tip such that the second attachment portion is then properly aligned with the slide, enabling the second attachment to occur automatically during normal actuation movement without requiring additional manual alignment or precision during the attachment process itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The first tip part acts as an intermediary element that connects the base body to the second tip part. By securing the first attachment portion to the base body first, it creates a stable intermediate platform that facilitates the subsequent attachment of the second attachment portion to the slide, reducing the precision demands on the final assembly step.
3Reliability
If attachment portions are spaced apart longitudinally, then reliability of secure attachment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is segmented into two distinct longitudinal zones: the first attachment portion connecting to the base body and the second attachment portion connecting to the slide. This segmentation allows each attachment to be optimized independently for security while maintaining a relatively simple overall longitudinal structure, as each segment handles a specific attachment function without requiring complex integration between them.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical tool tip has a first tip part with a first securing section for securing to a main part of the actuation device without tools and a second tip part with a second securing section for securing to a slide of the actuation device without tools. The second tip part is secured to the first tip part in a longitudinally movable manner at least in some sections. The first and second securing section are designed such that the second tip part can be secured to the slide only when the first securing section is already secured to the main part.