Modular Surgical Apparatus with Disposable Tool Cartridge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrosurgical instruments for cutting tissue are expensive due to their one-piece construction, which makes them costly and prone to infection, requiring frequent sterilization and replacement, thereby increasing surgical costs.
Innovation Solution
A modular surgical apparatus with a handle assembly and a tool cartridge that includes a transmission system with sheaths for protection, a gate mechanism for debris prevention, and automatic switching between coagulation and cutting modes, allowing for cost-effective and efficient use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If one-piece construction is used, then structural strength and reliability are improved, but manufacturing cost increases and infection risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument is divided into separate modules: a reusable handle assembly and disposable tool cartridges. This segmentation allows the handle to be manufactured once with high precision while the cartridges can be produced more economically and disposed of after use, reducing overall manufacturing costs and infection risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The delicate cutting and coagulation tools are extracted from the permanent handle assembly and placed into removable tool cartridges. This extraction allows the expensive handle to be reused while the disposable cartridges bear the sterilization and replacement burden, resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing cost.
2Stability of the object's composition
If one-piece construction is used, then structural integrity is improved, but infection risk increases requiring frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the instrument into a reusable handle and disposable cartridges, the design maintains structural integrity of the handle while allowing the cartridges to be discarded after single use, eliminating infection risk without compromising the handle's durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool cartridges are designed as disposable components that are discarded after a single use. This eliminates the need for sterilization and replacement of the expensive handle assembly, reducing infection risk while maintaining the structural integrity of the reusable portions.
3Ease of manufacture
If disposable tool cartridges are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool cartridge integrates multiple functions (cutting, coagulation, transmission mechanisms) into a single disposable unit. This merging reduces the need for complex sterilization and maintenance systems, offsetting the added complexity of the cartridge design with simplified overall system management.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool cartridge is designed to perform multiple functions (cutting and coagulation) within a single disposable unit, reducing the need for multiple separate components and complex switching mechanisms, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
4Ease of operation
If manual mode switching is used, then operational control is improved, but surgical procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument automatically switches between cutting and coagulation modes based on the position of the tool actuation lever, eliminating the need for manual mode selection by the surgeon. This self-service feature maintains operational control while significantly reducing the time required for mode transitions during surgical procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the position of the tool actuation lever as feedback to automatically determine the appropriate operating mode. When the lever is in the cutting position, the instrument provides cutting current; when in the coagulation position, it provides coagulation current, eliminating manual intervention and reducing procedure time.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical apparatus for coagulating and cutting tissue includes a handle assembly and a tool cartridge. The tool cartridge includes electrically conductive movable tools, such as jaws and a blade, for cutting tissue. The jaws and blade each are connected to a transmission to facilitate movement. Multiple sheaths are used to encompass and protect the transmissions. Slidable grips are disposed outside of the sheaths and operatively connected to the transmissions that are disposed within the sheaths. At least one lever is supported by the handle assembly and engagable with the grips to facilitate movement of the grips, and thus, the tools.