Intuitive Wire-Pulley Control for Multi-Directional Surgical Instruments
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical instruments with unbendable end tools are not suitable for accessing surgical regions and performing various operations, and operators struggle to intuitively control the bending of bendable end tools, leading to difficulty in learning and potential errors during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with an end tool that rotates in multiple directions, an operator controlling the end tool, and an operating force transmitter using wires and pulleys to transmit operator movements, ensuring the operation direction of the operator is intuitively identical to the end tool's operation direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a bendable end tool is used to access surgical regions and perform various operations, then the adaptability and versatility of the surgical instrument is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the operator's control movements are not intuitively identical to the actual bending operations of the end tool
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inversion principle by reversing the control mechanism so that the operator's movements are intuitively identical to the end tool's movements. Specifically, the operator control member is configured to rotate in the same direction as the end tool, and the wire transmission system is arranged to maintain this intuitive directional correspondence, eliminating the need for operators to learn complex control mappings
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses wires and pulleys as intermediary elements to transmit the operator's rotational movements to the end tool while maintaining intuitive directional control. The wire transmission system acts as a mediator that preserves the directional relationship between operator input and end tool output, allowing flexible end tool configuration without compromising ease of operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If a bendable end tool with multiple degrees of freedom is implemented, then the versatility of surgical operations is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple wires and pulleys required for control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the control system into independent wire-pulley units, each responsible for a specific degree of freedom of the end tool. This modular approach allows each wire to control a specific rotational movement independently, making the complex multi-degree-of-freedom control system manageable and maintainable while preserving versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamic wire transmission systems with pulleys that can accommodate the flexible, multi-directional movements of the bendable end tool. The wire-pulley configuration allows the system to dynamically adapt to various end tool positions and orientations while maintaining intuitive operator control, enabling versatile surgical operations without rigid mechanical linkages
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
Improves the convenience, accuracy, and reliability of surgical operations by making the operator's movements intuitively match the end tool's movements, reducing the learning curve and minimizing errors.
Implementation Method 1
an operating force transmitter including one or more wires and one or more pulleys transmitting an operation of the operator to the end tool
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are surgical instruments, and more particularly, surgical instruments that may be manually operated to perform laparoscopic operations or various surgical operations.