Medical Instrument Grip Latching Mechanism Miniaturization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical instruments with pivotably movable grip pieces and a latching mechanism are prone to foreign body interference and are bulky due to the need for stable components to apply spring force and holding force, limiting miniaturization and functionality.
Innovation Solution
Decoupling the guiding and latching functions by using a latching body and receiver that are dimensioned for holding forces, allowing the guide body and path to be minimized, enabling a more compact design and reduced risk of foreign body interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the guide body and guide path are designed to provide both guiding function and holding force, then the latching mechanism can function reliably, but the components must be large and heavy, preventing miniaturization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the latching mechanism into separate functional components: the guide body and guide path provide guiding function, while the latching body and latching receiver provide holding force. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, enabling miniaturization while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding force function is extracted from the guide body and transferred to a dedicated latching body that interacts with a latching receiver. This extraction allows the guide body to be minimized while the latching components are dimensioned specifically for force transmission.
2Strength
If the components between grip pieces are designed to be stable and robust for applying spring force, then the spring force and holding force functions are ensured, but the instrument becomes heavy and awkward
Solution Approach 1:
The force transmission path is segmented into spring elements that provide spring force and latching components that provide holding force. This allows each element to be optimized for its specific force requirement, reducing overall instrument weight while maintaining necessary strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the dimensional parameters of components based on their specific function. The latching body and receiver are dimensioned for holding forces, while guide components are minimized, allowing the instrument to achieve necessary strength with reduced weight.
3Volume of moving object
If the latching mechanism components are miniaturized, then the instrument becomes more compact and accessible, but the components may become insufficiently stable to apply necessary spring force and holding force
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the latching mechanism into guide components and latching components, the patent allows miniaturization of the guide body while maintaining stability of the latching body and receiver. Each segment is sized appropriately for its function, achieving compactness without sacrificing stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching body acts as an intermediary between the guide body and the latching receiver, transferring forces efficiently. This intermediary component enables stable force transmission in a miniaturized configuration.
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
This design allows for significant miniaturization of the medical instrument, improves accessibility, and reduces the risk of faulty operation due to foreign body penetration, while maintaining the necessary holding forces and guiding functionality.
Implementation Method 1
the grip pieces which are arranged in a pivotably movable manner relative to one another, are subjected to spring force
Implementation Method 2
said handle and tool being typically connected to one another and coupled in movement to one another via a shank and a mechanism which is guided therein
Data Source
AI summary
A medical instrument includes a proximal handle (3), for controlling a distal tool, including two grip pieces (4, 5) pivotable relative to one another, subjected to spring force and coupled in movement via a path guide with a path component (7). The path component includes a guide path (11), and a guide body (14) on a guide component (8). The guide body engages into the guide path. The components (7, 8) are arranged on one of the grip pieces and are subjected to a spring force, transversely to a pivoting plane of the grip pieces. One of the components (8) is pivotably arranged on a grip piece. Functionally independent of the guide body (14) and guide path (11), a latching body (12) is received by a latching receiver (16) on the components (7, 8) for a latching function, blocking pivoting movement of the grip pieces.