Oscillating Surgical Tool Transmission for Tissue Cutting and Fastener Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary surgical tools are expensive, difficult to sterilize, and require disassembly, leading to increased surgical costs and potential damage to fibrous tissues like muscle and nerves due to inefficient oscillation mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A rotary surgical tool with interchangeable end effectors that allows for both high-speed tissue modification and slow-speed fastener driving, featuring a transmission that enables oscillating and continuous rotation modes with low heat generation and high reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single rotary surgical tool is used for both tissue modification and fastener driving, then tool versatility is improved, but the tool cannot be sterilized and must be disposed of after use
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical tool is divided into separable components including a reusable powered device and disposable end effectors. The end effectors can be easily removed and replaced, allowing the main body to be sterilized while the cutting components are discarded after single use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable end effectors that are discarded after single use to avoid sterilization issues. These inexpensive, single-use cutting components replace the need to sterilize the entire tool, enabling the main powered device to be reused and sterilized multiple times.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If oscillation mechanisms are added to rotary tools to prevent fibrous tissue damage, then tissue protection is improved, but the mechanisms do not operate smoothly and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an oscillation mechanism that periodically vibrates the end effector at high frequency during rotation. This periodic action prevents fibrous tissues from wrapping around the cutter by continuously disrupting their attachment, while the mechanism is designed to operate smoothly through proper mechanical configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate powered tools are used for different surgical operations, then functional specificity is improved, but sterilization complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal powered surgical device that can perform multiple functions including tissue modification, fastener driving, and oscillation modes. By designing a single tool with interchangeable end effectors, the system eliminates the need for multiple separate powered tools, reducing sterilization complexity and cost while maintaining functional versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
An oscillating drive mechanism for a surgical tool includes a motor having a rotor, a crank assembly hub, a link secured to the crank assembly hub, a pivot shaft, a shuttle including an arcuate rack gear secured to the link so that rotation of the crank assembly hub provides reciprocating rotary motion to the arcuate rack gear about the pivot shaft. A gear is meshed with the arcuate rack gear and is secured to an output shaft, whereby rotational motion of the motor induces rotary oscillating motion to the output shaft.