Powered Tacker Motor Drive Torque and Positioning Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments for applying fasteners to tissue during hernia repair surgeries often result in inadvertent ejection or incomplete installation of fasteners due to lack of tactile feedback and require significant manual force, leading to operator fatigue.
Innovation Solution
A powered tacker device with a handle assembly and tacker assembly, featuring a safety mechanism that prevents actuation until proper positioning against tissue, and a drive assembly with a motor and gear system to provide controlled and efficient installation of fasteners through a prosthetic mesh and into tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual actuation of surgical instruments is used to install fasteners, then the device structure remains simple, but operator fatigue increases due to repeated actuation and large forces required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical actuation system with a powered system comprising a motor, drive shaft, and transmission mechanism. The motor automatically rotates the fastener installation instrument, eliminating the need for manual repeated actuation and reducing operator fatigue while maintaining the overall surgical instrument structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The powered system enables the instrument to perform the fastener installation operation autonomously once activated. The motor-driven mechanism automatically completes the rotation and installation process without requiring continuous manual intervention, allowing the system to serve itself during the critical installation phase.
2Reliability
If manual actuation is used without tactile feedback, then the device structure remains simple, but fastener installation reliability decreases due to inadvertent ejection or incomplete installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates tactile feedback mechanisms that allow the operator to sense when the fastener is properly positioned against the tissue and when the installation is complete. This feedback system provides real-time information about the installation status, preventing inadvertent ejection or incomplete installation while integrating seamlessly with the powered actuation system.
3Ease of operation
If multiple fasteners are installed manually through stiff meshes, then no additional power source is needed, but significant force is required leading to hand fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes manual mechanical force application with an electric motor system. The motor provides the necessary torque to drive fasteners through stiff meshes without requiring significant force from the operator's hand, thereby eliminating hand fatigue while incorporating a compact power source within the instrument handle.
4Manufacturing precision
If actuation is allowed without positioning confirmation, then the operation is simpler, but fastener placement accuracy decreases resulting in inadvertent ejection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a control mechanism that requires confirmation of proper positioning before allowing actuation to occur. The system performs a preliminary check to verify that the fastener is correctly positioned against the tissue and the mesh is properly engaged before enabling motor activation, thereby ensuring accurate placement while adding only minimal control complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures secure and efficient placement of fasteners with reduced operator fatigue by preventing actuation until the device is correctly positioned and providing sufficient torque for easy installation of multiple fasteners through a prosthetic mesh and into tissue.
Implementation Method 1
The handle assembly includes a power source and a drive assembly mounted within the handle assembly. The drive assembly includes a keyed journal rotatably mounted within the handle assembly and rotatable in response to actuation of the power source.
Implementation Method 2
The keyed journal includes a threaded bore and the drive rod includes a threaded outer surface engageable with the threaded bore. Rotation of the keyed journal within the handle assembly moves the drive rod in a longitudinal direction within the handle assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a powered tacker device for use in installing multiple surgical fasteners through a prosthetic mesh into tissue. The powered tacker device generally includes a handle assembly and a tacker assembly extending distally from the handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a motor and self-contained power assembly to rotate the surgical fasteners into tissue. The handle assembly is provided with a drive assembly which allows for rotation, as well as distal longitudinal movement, of a surgical fastener relative to the powered tacker device. The tacker assembly includes an inner tube for containing the plurality of surgical fasteners and a driver which is movable out of alignment with the inner tube so as to install a single fastener at a time into tissue.