Medical Fastening Device for Electromagnetic Sensor Mounting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical fastening devices for electromagnetic sensors in surgical instruments are cumbersome to mount and separate, leading to contamination risks and increased costs due to fixed integration, which complicates their use across different instruments.

Innovation Solution

A clamping element with a counterpiece and a pressing piece, allowing for easy insertion and secure fastening of the sensor mount on surgical instruments, enabling simple detachment and reuse, while minimizing contamination risks through a secure and repeatable positioning mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the clamp is pushed onto the instrument tip to fasten the sensor, then the sensor can be mounted on the instrument, but tissue remnants and liquids may be transferred to the next instrument causing contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor mountingVSAvoidcontamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a fastening device with a counterpiece and pressing piece as an intermediary mechanism between the sensor clamp and the instrument. This mediator allows the clamp to be fastened without direct contact with the contaminated instrument tip, thus preventing transfer of tissue remnants and liquids to subsequent instruments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening device is divided into separate functional components: a counterpiece that provides the mounting interface and a pressing piece that applies clamping force. This segmentation allows the pressing action to occur at a clean interface rather than requiring the clamp to slide over the contaminated instrument tip.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If sensors are fixedly integrated in surgical instruments, then the position detection function is ensured, but the instruments become more expensive and sterilization becomes problematic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition detectionVSAvoidinstrument structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the sensor mounting function from the surgical instrument itself by providing a detachable fastening device. This allows the sensor to be mounted on reusable instruments without permanently integrating it, reducing instrument complexity and cost while maintaining reliable position detection through consistent fastening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening device with counterpiece and pressing piece provides a universal mounting solution that can be applied to different surgical instruments. This multi-functional approach allows the same fastening mechanism to secure sensors on various instrument types, reducing the need for instrument-specific integrated sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If a fully closed clamp carrying the sensor is used, then the sensor is protected, but the mounting procedure becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor protectionVSAvoidmounting time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of pushing the clamp onto the instrument from the tip (traditional approach), the patent inverts the sequence by using a counterpiece that receives the instrument and then securing it with a pressing piece. This reversed approach reduces mounting time while maintaining sensor protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Productivity

If the holder is pulled off the instrument tip during instrument changes, then the next instrument can be inserted, but contamination risk increases due to contact with tissue remnants

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstrument exchangeVSAvoidcontamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The counterpiece serves as an intermediary that remains on the instrument during the fastening process, allowing the pressing piece to be removed without pulling the entire holder off the instrument tip. This enables instrument changes while minimizing contact with contaminated surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11751949B2Medical fastening device and medical device

Publication Date: 2023.09.12 JOIMAX GMBH

AI summary

a medical fastening device for an electromagnetic sensor with a clamping element and with a sensor mount and to a medical device with such a fastening device, with an electromagnetic sensor and with a medical instrument. The clamping element has a counterpiece and a pressing piece movable relative to the clamping element, wherein the counterpiece has a lateral opening, which frees a free mounting area, which is itself at least partially enclosed by the counterpiece in a frame-like manner. The counterpiece has a depression, which points towards the mounting area and is arranged opposite the pressing piece, wherein the counterpiece is provided with an opening arranged opposite the depression. The pressing piece is movable in the opening in the direction of the depression of the counterpiece.