Micro-invasive Medical Instrument with Dual Active Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical instruments for micro-invasive surgical procedures are limited in versatility and require multiple instruments for different functions, leading to increased procedural time, patient burden, and costs due to frequent instrument changes.
Innovation Solution
A medical instrument with a distal tool featuring two independent active devices for gripping and cutting, controlled by flexible transmission devices within a curved or bendable shaft with a swivel joint, allowing for diverse applications and reduced need for multiple instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate instruments are used for different surgical functions, then each instrument can be optimized for its specific function, but the procedural time increases and patient burden increases due to frequent instrument changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple independent active devices (gripping function, cutting function, and bending control) into a single tool at the distal end of the shaft. This merging of functions allows the surgeon to perform multiple tasks without changing instruments, directly resolving the contradiction by maintaining functional versatility while eliminating procedural time loss from instrument changes
Solution Approach 2:
The tool is designed with multiple active devices that can be controlled independently, making it a universal instrument capable of performing gripping, cutting, and shaft bending operations. This multi-functionality approach allows a single instrument to replace multiple specialized instruments, reducing procedural time while maintaining adaptability to different surgical tasks
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate instruments are used for different surgical functions, then each instrument can be optimized for its specific function, but the patient burden and costs increase due to frequent instrument changes
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple functions into one instrument, the patent reduces the number of instrument changes required during surgery. This directly improves ease of operation by simplifying the surgical workflow, while the presence of multiple independently controllable active devices maintains functional versatility for different surgical tasks
3Productivity
If a single instrument with multiple functions is used, then procedural time is reduced and versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases with multiple transmission devices and active devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where multiple transmission devices are housed within the shaft structure, and multiple active devices are positioned at the distal end. This nesting allows complex functionality to be packed into a compact form factor, improving surgical efficiency while managing device complexity through spatial organization
Solution Approach 2:
The tool is segmented into distinct active devices (gripping, cutting, bending control) each with its own transmission mechanism. This segmentation allows each function to be independently controlled and optimized, improving overall surgical efficiency while organizing complexity into manageable, functionally-separated components
4Reliability
If the shaft is made rigid to provide stable transmission, then transmission precision is improved, but the ability to bend and adapt to different surgical paths is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft incorporates a bending mechanism that allows it to dynamically change its configuration from rigid to flexible as needed. This dynamic capability enables the shaft to maintain transmission reliability when straight while adapting to curved surgical paths when bending is required, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft's mechanical properties are made changeable through the bending mechanism, allowing the transmission reliability parameter to be maintained while the flexibility parameter is adjusted as needed. This parameter change capability enables the shaft to adapt to different surgical requirements without compromising transmission performance
Data Source
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AI summary
The medical instrument (10) has a handler (18) that is provided at a proximal end of an outer shaft (20). A tool arranged at a distal end of the outer shaft is provided with two active devices (30,50) having different functions. Two transmission units (40,60) are provided in outer shaft to transfer torque to control respective active devices. The outer shaft is provided with a curved drag hinge (24) to flexibly bend the transmission units.