Medical Resection Device Interference Members Tube Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices with a tube-in-tube construction face challenges in preventing the separation of inner and outer tubes without rendering the device unusable, which affects their sterilization and reusability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating interference members such as grooves, pins, snap mechanisms, and retaining rings on the inner and outer tube assemblies to prevent separation along the longitudinal axis, ensuring the device remains functional and intact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the inner and outer tubes are designed to be separable for sterilization, then the device can be reused, but the tubes may separate unintentionally during storage or handling
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separable inner and outer tube assemblies that can be detached for sterilization and reassembly, enabling reuse while maintaining structural integrity through controlled segmentation
Solution Approach 2:
The inner tube assembly is nested within the outer tube assembly, with interference members on both assemblies that engage to prevent separation while allowing intentional disassembly for sterilization purposes
2Reliability
If the inner and outer tubes are firmly connected to prevent separation, then the device maintains integrity, but the device cannot be disassembled for sterilization and reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between inner and outer tubes transitions from a static permanent connection to a dynamic reversible connection, allowing the assembly to be firmly connected during use and deliberately disassembled for sterilization
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows temporary separation of tube assemblies for sterilization (discarding the connected state) followed by recovery of the complete assembly for reuse, maintaining both integrity and reusability
3Reliability
If the interference members are designed to completely prevent separation, then the tubes remain securely connected, but the device becomes unusable if separation is attempted
Solution Approach 1:
The interference members are designed with specific geometric parameters (ridge angles, snap mechanism dimensions) that create high resistance to unintended separation while allowing controlled disassembly when deliberate force is applied
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A medical resection device (100) that includes an outer tube assembly (103) that includes a straight outer tube (102), an inner tube assembly (104) that includes a straight inner tube (110) disposed within the outer tube, and at least one interference member on the outer tube assembly and at least one interference member on the inner tube assembly. The inner tube and the outer tube are configured to rotate relative to each other to resect tissue at a distal end of the inner and outer tubes. The interference members are configured to prevent a force exerted along a longitudinal axis of the inner tube from separating the inner and outer tubes without rendering the medical device unusable. The medical resection device can include a burr on the inner tube, or a first cutting surface on the outer tube and a second cutting surface on the inner tube. Exemplary interference members can be various combinations of a groove, a pin, a ring, a ridge, a snap mechanism, step features, and others.