Press Cutting Die Assembly with Contoured Blade Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing press cutting dies for tissue grafts face challenges in maintaining sanitary conditions, ensuring biocompatibility, and achieving uniform cut profiles due to material limitations and potential contamination, leading to inefficient and incomplete cutting operations.

Innovation Solution

A press cutting die assembly with a blade support comprising two contoured base portions made of biocompatible polycarbonate materials, featuring a keyway system that securely captures and maintains the cutting blade in an orthogonal orientation, ensuring robust and sanitary cutting operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional press cutting dies are used, then cutting operations can be performed, but sanitary conditions cannot be maintained and contamination occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesanitary conditionVSAvoidcontamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The die assembly is divided into multiple separable components including a first base portion, a second base portion, and a cutting blade. This segmentation allows each component to be independently sterilized or replaced, maintaining sanitary conditions while enabling complete disassembly for sterilization processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The die assembly can be configured as a disposable unit that is discarded after a single use or limited number of uses. This eliminates cross-contamination between grafting procedures and ensures sanitary conditions without requiring complex sterilization protocols for reusable materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If traditional materials are used for die construction, then manufacturing is simpler, but biocompatibility cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovebiocompatibilityVSAvoidmaterial suitability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The material properties of the die assembly are specifically selected to meet biocompatibility requirements. The base portions and cutting blade are constructed from materials with appropriate mechanical properties, chemical inertness, and biological compatibility to prevent adverse reactions with graft tissue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The die assembly utilizes composite construction with different materials optimized for specific functions - such as biocompatible polymers for base portions and sterile, non-reactive materials for the cutting blade - ensuring both biocompatibility and manufacturing feasibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Manufacturing precision

If the cutting edge is not securely maintained, then the die structure is simpler, but uniform graft sizes cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecut profile uniformityVSAvoidblade support structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade support structure is segmented into modular components including keyed connection elements that precisely locate and secure the cutting blade. This modular approach maintains cutting edge stability while allowing for straightforward assembly and disassembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first and second base portions feature asymmetric contoured surfaces with complementary geometric profiles that create a precise mechanical interlock. This asymmetric design securely positions the cutting blade in a fixed orientation, ensuring uniform cutting depth and graft dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

4Reliability

If the cutting blade is not securely captured, then assembly is simpler, but incomplete cut operations occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting operation completenessVSAvoidblade capture mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The contoured surfaces of the base portions are pre-formed with complementary geometric profiles that automatically guide and secure the cutting blade during assembly. This preliminary structural preparation ensures the blade is correctly positioned and captured before the cutting operation begins

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Asymmetric contoured surfaces with interlocking geometric profiles create a mechanical capture system that firmly secures the cutting blade. This asymmetric design prevents blade movement or rotation during operation, ensuring complete and consistent cutting operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS10343298B2Press cutting die assembly

Publication Date: 2019.07.09 BIOCUT LLC

AI summary

An assembly and method of forming a press cutting die that includes a cutting blade that is supported by a blade support assembly or blade support. The blade support includes a first base portion and a second base portion that are each contoured to cooperate with one another to capture a portion of the cutting blade along an interface between the first and second base portions. Preferably, one or more keys extend between the first and second base portions and traverse the geometric plane associated with the cutting blade. Such a press cutting die is particularly applicable for cutting biologically compatible materials having a desired shape from a bulk source of the biologically compatible material.