Removable Jaw and Blade Mechanism for Surgical Device Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical devices are cumbersome to clean and sterilize, often requiring the entire end effector to be replaced due to difficulties in removing and replacing the cutting mechanism and jaws, leading to inefficiencies in reuse.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device design featuring removably coupled jaws and a cutting blade mechanism that can be easily disassociated, cleaned, and replaced, with a mechanism allowing the cutting blade to be advanced and retracted for efficient removal and reassembly, facilitating the cleaning and sterilization of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cutting blade and jaws are made as integrated components, then the device structure is simpler and more reliable, but the components become difficult to clean and replace
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical device is divided into separable components: the first jaw, second jaw, and cutting blade are designed as independent removable parts. The cutting blade can be detached from between the jaws by retracting it proximally, allowing each component to be cleaned or replaced independently while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Productivity
If the cutting blade is made removable and replaceable, then cleaning and sterilization efficiency improves, but the mechanism for securing and releasing the blade becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade utilizes the natural movement of the jaws during operation for its retention and release. When the jaws close, they automatically secure the blade in position. When the jaws open, the blade can be manually removed without requiring additional locking or release mechanisms, making the system self-servicing.
3Reliability
If the entire end effector is replaced for cleaning, then component contamination is eliminated, but device cost and waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade is extracted as a separate removable component from the end effector assembly. This allows the blade to be removed, cleaned, and sterilized independently while the jaws and other components remain in place, eliminating the need to replace the entire end effector and reducing material waste.
4Reliability
If the cutting blade is advanced distally for tissue cutting, then cutting effectiveness improves, but the blade becomes harder to remove for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of designing a mechanism that secures the blade during cutting and then requires complex release, the design is inverted: the blade is held in place by the natural closing force of the jaws during cutting, and release is achieved by simply opening the jaws and manually withdrawing the blade proximally, making removal easier than insertion.
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical devices are provided having end effectors including a jaw closure. The devices herein generally include a handle portion, an elongate shaft, and an effector having first and second jaws configured to engage tissue. In some embodiments, the devices can be configured to allow for the removal of the upper jaw and the cutting blade when the device is not in use. In certain aspects, the jaw and/or cutting blade can be cleaned, sterilized, and reused or completely replaced. In some aspects, the device can then be reassembled including the cleaned or new elements, and reused.