Lockable Ball-and-Socket Joint with Gas Cartridge Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical retractor systems face challenges with insufficient clamping force and ease of use, particularly in maintaining tissue integrity and adjusting retraction angles without causing tissue damage or requiring excessive manual effort.
Innovation Solution
A lockable ball-and-socket joint system utilizing a gas cartridge as a pressure source, eliminating the need for external pressurized air, with a piston and actuating device for reversible gas disconnection, providing a high-pressure, compact, and reliable locking mechanism that allows for precise control and easy handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If external pressurized air is used to actuate the locking device, then the clamping force can be increased, but the system complexity and reliability decrease due to gas hoses and external sources
Solution Approach 1:
The gas cartridge serves multiple functions: it provides pressurized gas for actuating the locking device, eliminates the need for external gas sources and hoses, and integrates directly into the surgical instrument. This multi-functionality improves reliability by removing external dependencies while maintaining the necessary clamping force.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the gas source from the external environment and incorporates it directly into the instrument as a self-contained gas cartridge. This eliminates gas hoses and external pressurized air sources, thereby improving reliability while maintaining actuation capability.
2Force
If external pressurized air systems are used, then clamping force can be achieved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The gas cartridge is merged with the locking device mechanism, combining the gas source, delivery system, and actuation function into a single integrated unit. This reduces device complexity by eliminating separate gas hoses, external sources, and intermediate components while maintaining clamping force capability.
3Force
If the locking device is continuously connected to the pressure gas source, then the clamping force is maintained, but the ease of operation decreases due to inability to quickly release
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device incorporates a dynamic valve mechanism that can rapidly switch between locked and released states. The valve member can be actuated to close and block the gas passage, quickly releasing the clamping force when needed, while maintaining a continuous connection to the gas source for immediate re-locking capability.
4Force
If high pressure gas is used to ensure reliable locking, then the clamping force is sufficient, but the risk of tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve mechanism provides feedback control by allowing the operator to precisely control when gas is delivered to and released from the locking device. This enables reliable locking when needed while minimizing unnecessary gas pressure application that could cause tissue damage.
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 system achieves a robust and reliable clamping force, reducing tissue damage risk and simplifying adjustments, enabling precise retraction without the need for external air sources, enhancing surgical precision and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure gas source is a gas cartridge
Implementation Method 2
the locking device having a piston, a pressure gas source
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a lockable joint, especially a lockable ball-and-socket joint, comprising a first arm (14) having a swivel head (30), a socket (32), the swivel head (30) being pivotably mounted to the socket (32), and a locking device (90) arranged for locking the swivel head (30) with respect to the socket (32), the locking device (90) having a piston (70'), a pressure gas source (64), and an actuating device (92) arranged for reversibly disconnecting the piston (70') from the pressure gas source (64) where in the pressure gas source is a gas cartridge (64).