Multi-State Fuse Firing Assembly for Surgical Instruments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical instruments lack a mechanism to safely limit firing loads, potentially leading to excessive force during tissue stapling and cutting, which can compromise patient safety and control.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical firing force lockout mechanism, referred to as a 'fuse,' transitions between intact, first failed, and second failed states, controlling the load transmitted to the sled for staple ejection, ensuring safe operation by preventing excessive firing loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no firing load limiting mechanism is used, then the firing assembly can transmit full firing load to the sled, but this may cause excessively high forces that compromise patient safety
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse is divided into multiple segments (intact state, first failed state, second failed state) that sequentially fail at different load thresholds. This segmentation allows the firing load to be progressively limited while maintaining patient safety, transforming a single binary lockout into a multi-level force management system.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuse acts as a pre-designed safety mechanism that fails beforehand to prevent excessive forces from reaching the sled. By incorporating this sacrificial component, the system proactively cushions against potential harmful high forces before they can compromise patient safety.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a simple binary lockout mechanism is used, then the device is simpler to manufacture, but it cannot provide multiple operating states for different surgical procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse transitions dynamically between three distinct states (intact, first failed, second failed) based on the loading history. This dynamic behavior enables the system to adapt to different surgical requirements by providing multiple operable states, with the complexity managed through the natural progression of material failure modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuse utilizes changes in mechanical parameters (load threshold, structural integrity) to define different operating states. By designing the fuse material and geometry to exhibit predictable parameter changes under increasing load, the system achieves versatility without requiring complex control mechanisms.
3Force
If the fuse is designed to fail at very high loads, then it maintains full firing capability, but it loses the ability to limit excessive forces that could harm the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse deliberately incorporates a controlled weakness that will fail under excessive load. By converting the potential harm of uncontrolled high forces into a beneficial safety feature, the system ensures that any excessive firing load is automatically limited when the fuse fails, protecting the patient while maintaining normal firing capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Surgical instruments (4300) are disclosed comprising a firing assembly (4350) including a fuse having a plurality of operating states.