Medical Instrument Spring Assembly via Integral Pivot Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing medical hand-held instruments with pivotable grip elements and spring mechanisms are complex, difficult to clean, prone to corrosion, and have issues with secure fastening and replaceability, leading to increased wear and potential disruptions in clinical workflows.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of identically constructed grip elements with pivot-pin receiver eyelets and a spring element with integral pivot pins, where the pivot pins are inserted into the eyelets before coupling, allowing for a form-fit connection secured by a rivet or screw, enabling easy assembly, disassembly for cleaning or repair, and reducing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a screw connection is used to attach the leaf spring to the instrument handle, then the spring can be securely fastened, but the gaps between the screw thread and instrument create non-cleanable areas that are prone to corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the screw connection entirely from the instrument design. Instead of using a screw to attach the leaf spring to the handle, the spring is integrated directly into the handle structure through forming processes, eliminating the thread gaps that create cleaning problems while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The leaf spring and instrument handle are merged into a single integrated component. The spring is formed as an integral part of the handle through plastic deformation processes, eliminating separate fastening elements and creating a seamless structure that is both secure and cleanable.
2Reliability
If the leaf spring is pierced to create a screw hole, then the spring can be attached to the handle, but the geometry of the spring is weakened and it becomes susceptible to breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The spring attachment structure is prepared in advance during the forming process before final assembly. Receptacles are pre-formed in the handle structure to receive the spring ends, allowing the spring to be attached without requiring holes to be pierced through it during assembly, thus preserving its structural integrity.
3Device complexity
If a one-piece leaf spring is used, then the structure is simple, but it requires complex forming processes to create secure connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses plastic deformation and forming processes to change the physical parameters of the handle material, creating integrated spring receptacles and attachment structures. This allows complex three-dimensional spring configurations to be formed from simple starting materials through controlled parameter changes during manufacturing.
4Device complexity
If the leaf spring free end rests directly on the instrument handle, then the structure is simple, but friction during movement deteriorates surface quality and increases corrosion susceptibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary bearing surfaces and pivot points between the spring and handle. Instead of direct contact between the spring free end and handle interior, specialized bearing receptacles and pivot pins are used as intermediaries that reduce friction and protect surfaces from deterioration while maintaining structural simplicity.
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 method simplifies the production and assembly of medical hand-held instruments, ensures secure handling, and facilitates easy cleaning and repair, while minimizing wear and the risk of corrosion, thereby improving the reliability and usability of the instruments.
Implementation Method 1
The pivot pins are inserted into the eyelets before coupling, allowing for a form-fit connection secured by a rivet or screw
Implementation Method 2
a spring element, preferably a leaf spring which is bent in a U shape or V shape, which has two spring element ends which are each connected to one of the two grip elements, so that when at least one of the two grip elements is pivoted out of a basic position, pivoting back into the basic position can be effected via the spring element
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a medical hand-held instrument having two grip elements, pivotable relative to each other, and a spring element, with the method steps to be performed in the following sequence: providing the two grip elements each with a pivot-pin receiver eyelet formed thereon, at their one end portion and an articulation eyelet for the spring element formed thereon, providing the spring element with pivot pins arranged at or formed integrally with each spring end, inserting the pivot pins of the spring element into the articulation eyelets of the grip elements not yet pivotally coupled to each other, and bringing together the grip elements in the region of their pivot pin receiver eyelets and pivotally coupling the grip elements by inserting a pivot pin into the overlapping pivot pin receiver eyelets.