Medical Handle Pneumatic Safety Coupling Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatically or hydraulically operated medical instruments face safety risks due to unintentional actuation and uncontrolled compressed air release, complicating handling during surgical operations, as existing solutions require separate compressed air safety devices that can make handling cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A medical handle with an integrated pneumatic/hydraulic safety coupling, where the coupling mechanism automatically opens the valve mechanism during coupling and closes it during decoupling, eliminating the need for a separate safety device and simplifying handling by ensuring the actuator is only functional in the locked state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate compressed air safety device is added to prevent unintentional actuation, then safety is improved, but device complexity and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The safety function is merged with the coupling mechanism itself. The coupling part is designed to automatically open the valve mechanism when coupled, eliminating the need for a separate safety device. The coupling and safety functions are integrated into a single unified mechanism, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical connection between components and simultaneously controls the valve mechanism's opening and closing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated safety devices, reducing device complexity while maintaining or improving safety through automated control.
2Reliability
If a separate compressed air safety device is added to prevent unintentional actuation, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The safety function is merged with the coupling mechanism itself. The coupling part is designed to automatically open the valve mechanism when coupled, eliminating the need for a separate safety device. The coupling and safety functions are integrated into a single unified mechanism, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism automatically performs the safety function by opening the valve mechanism when coupled and closing it when decoupled, without requiring separate manual intervention. The system serves itself by integrating the safety control directly into the coupling action, improving ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If the valve mechanism is manually controlled separately from coupling, then operational control is improved, but safety risks increase due to unintentional actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The valve mechanism is automatically opened as a preliminary action during the coupling process itself, before any actuation can occur. This ensures that the system is in a safe state (valve closed) until coupling is established, preventing unintentional actuation while maintaining operational control through the integrated mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism provides automatic feedback control for the valve mechanism - when coupling occurs, the valve opens; when decoupling occurs, the valve closes. This automated feedback loop eliminates the need for separate manual control while ensuring safety through consistent, error-free operation linked directly to the coupling state.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention relates in summary to a medical handle for pneumatically or hydraulically operated medical instruments or motor units, with a preferably female coupling part for the mechanical and pneumatic/hydraulic coupling of a corresponding, preferably male coupling part, and a manually activatable valve mechanism for selectively applying pressure to a coupled medical instrument or to the motor unit thereof, which is provided with a safety mechanism for preventing pressure being applied in the case of an uncoupled medical instrument or motor unit thereof. According to the invention, provision is made that the coupling part provided on the handle interacts with the valve mechanism in such a way that the latter is automatically opened during or by the mechanical coupling procedure and/or is enabled for manual opening, whereas the valve mechanism is closed and/or the enablement is cancelled in the uncoupled state.