Medical Motor Handpiece Angle Adjustment Ring Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical hand instruments lack intuitive and efficient mechanisms for angular positioning of distal shafts, often requiring complex latching systems that are difficult to assemble and maintain, and may require replacement of entire components when latching elements wear out.

Innovation Solution

A medical motor handpiece with a rotationally fixed angle adjusting ring at its distal end, featuring an indicator sleeve with angle markings and a separate locking ring that can be easily replaced, allowing for intuitive operation and simplified maintenance by locking the control element into predefined angular positions with increased rotational resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex latching system is used to lock the operating element at predefined angular positions, then the reliability of angular positioning is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of assembly/maintenance increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular positioning reliabilityVSAvoidlatching system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The latching system is segmented into modular components: an angle adjusting ring with predefined angular positions, a separate locking ring with locking elements, and an operating element with complementary locking protrusions. This segmentation allows independent replacement of wear-prone locking elements without replacing the entire positioning mechanism, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking elements on the locking ring are designed as replaceable, cost-effective components that can be easily replaced when worn. This approach treats the locking elements as short-living parts that are replaced rather than repaired, reducing maintenance complexity and cost while ensuring reliable angular positioning continues to function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If the entire locking system is replaced when latching elements wear out, then reliability is maintained, but the loss of time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelatching function reliabilityVSAvoidreplacement time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The locking system is divided into a stationary angle adjusting ring and a separate locking ring with replaceable locking elements. This segmentation enables selective replacement of only the worn locking elements rather than the entire locking system, significantly reducing replacement time and cost while maintaining the reliability of the angular positioning function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design allows individual locking elements to be discarded and replaced independently when worn, while the main locking ring and angle adjusting ring are recovered and reused. This selective replacement strategy minimizes waste and reduces the time and cost associated with full system replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Device complexity

If the angle adjusting ring is integrated into the handle portion, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation for angular adjustment is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandpiece structure complexityVSAvoidangular position adjustment ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The angle adjusting ring is segmented as a separate, distally positioned component rather than being integrated into the handle portion. This segmentation provides better accessibility for the user to rotate and adjust angular positions, improving ease of operation while maintaining acceptable device complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The angle adjusting ring is positioned at the distal end of the handle portion, utilizing the longitudinal dimension of the handpiece. This spatial arrangement improves user access and ergonomics for angular adjustment operations without significantly increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4321109A1Medical motor hand piece with angle adjustment ring and medical hand instrument
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 AESCULAP AG
  • EP4321109A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4321109A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4321109A1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a medical motor handpiece (2) for driving a distal end effector (8, 22), comprising a handle section (4), a preferably sleeve-shaped control element (12) rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis of the handle on a distal end section of the handle section (4), and coupling to the end effector (8, 22) in such a way as to transform a rotational movement of the control element (12) in a first direction of rotation into a movement of the end effector (8, 22) or to effect a function on the end effector (8, 22). An angle-adjusting ring (112) is arranged non-rotatably at a distal end of the medical motor handpiece (2) and is designed and configured to lock angular positions of the control element (12). The disclosure further relates to a medical hand instrument with a medical motor handpiece (2) according to the invention.