Manual Retraction Tool for Electromechanical Surgical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electromechanical surgical devices often fail during procedures due to battery failure or software errors, lacking a reliable manual backup to maintain operation and complete tasks such as actuation, articulation, and rotation of end effectors.
Innovation Solution
A manual retraction tool is designed to manually operate electromechanical surgical systems by incorporating a shaft with a rotation mechanism, trigger, and ratchet assembly, allowing clinicians to manually rotate and retract surgical tools, ensuring continuity of procedures even when electromechanical devices fail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electromechanical surgical devices are used to perform surgical procedures, then operational efficiency and precision are improved, but reliability deteriorates due to battery failure or software errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameter from fully electromechanical to manual mechanical operation when failures occur. The manual retraction tool provides an alternative operational mode that bypasses electrical systems, allowing the surgical procedure to continue despite battery or software failures in the electromechanical device.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual retraction tool serves as a pre-prepared backup system that is available before failures occur. It provides a mechanical safety net that can be deployed when electromechanical systems fail, ensuring continuous operation without interruption to the surgical procedure.
2Reliability
If manual backup tools are added to electromechanical surgical systems, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manual retraction tool is designed as a separate, standalone component that can be independently used. It is not integrated into the complex electromechanical system but rather serves as a discrete backup tool, minimizing the increase in overall system complexity while maintaining reliability improvements.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual retraction tool is designed as a simple, disposable mechanical component rather than a complex reusable system. This approach reduces the complexity burden of adding backup functionality, as the manual tool can be discarded after use rather than requiring integration and maintenance within the sophisticated electromechanical 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 manual retraction tool enables clinicians to manually actuate and retract surgical devices, ensuring procedure completion and safety by providing a mechanical backup for electromechanical systems, addressing the limitations of electromechanical devices during failures.
Implementation Method 1
the rotation mechanism includes a nut defining a threaded through-hole configured to rotatably support a threaded portion of the shaft, wherein when the trigger is actuated from the first position to the second position, the threaded through-hole of the nut engages the threaded portion of the shaft to rotate the shaft about the longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 2
the manual retraction tool further includes a ratchet assembly having a ratchet wheel and biasing member, the ratchet wheel defining a through-hole fixedly supporting the shaft and the biasing member configured to engage the ratchet wheel such that the shaft is restricted from rotating about the longitudinal axis in a second direction opposite the first direction when the trigger returns from the second position to the first position
Implementation Method 3
the rotation mechanism includes a gear assembly having a first gear operatively coupled to a second gear, wherein the first gear engages the trigger and the second gear fixedly supports the proximal shaft such that actuation of the trigger from the first position to the second position engages the first gear and in turn engages the second gear to rotate the proximal shaft about the longitudinal axis in the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A manual retraction tool for use with a surgical tool assembly of a surgical device includes a shaft, a rotation mechanism, and a trigger. The shaft is dimensioned to be inserted into a rotational connector of a surgical tool assembly and to effect rotation of the connector upon rotation of the shaft. The rotation mechanism configured to rotatably support the shaft. The trigger is operably connected to the rotation mechanism such that when the trigger is actuated from a first position to a second position, the rotation mechanism rotates the shaft about a longitudinal axis in a first direction to effect rotation of the rotational connector of the surgical tool assembly.