Resilient Drive Member Articulation for Surgical Instruments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical instruments that can articulate beyond 45 degrees often require complex operating mechanisms, limiting their operational range and procedural capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with an endoscopic body portion and a tool assembly that includes a drive member and a rack and pinion gear assembly, allowing for articulation over large angles without the need for longitudinal movement of an articulation link, using angled surfaces and a resilient drive member to facilitate rotation of the tool assembly relative to the endoscopic body portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If surgical instruments articulate at large angles (beyond 45 degrees), then the surgical operating procedural capabilities are extended, but the operating mechanism becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The drive member is formed from a resilient material that can bend and flex to accommodate large articulation angles between the endoscopic body portion and tool assembly. This flexible drive member eliminates the need for complex rigid mechanical linkages, achieving large-angle articulation while maintaining mechanism simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional complex mechanical articulation mechanisms (such as multiple joints, links, and gears) with a simpler system consisting of a resilient drive member that transmits rotational motion through flexing, thereby reducing overall device complexity while enabling large articulation angles
2Device complexity
If the drive member is formed from resilient material, then the articulation mechanism becomes simpler, but the longitudinal movement precision may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The drive member is segmented into distinct functional zones: a resilient portion that flexes to enable articulation, and rigid end portions that engage with the rack and pinion gear assembly. This segmentation allows the resilient portion to provide flexibility for large-angle articulation while the rigid portions maintain precise longitudinal movement control through gear engagement
Solution Approach 2:
The rack and pinion gear assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism that converts the rotational movement of the resilient drive member into precise longitudinal movement of the tool assembly. The gear teeth provide positive engagement that ensures accurate positioning while allowing the resilient drive member to flex during articulation
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
Enables significant extension of surgical operating procedural capabilities by allowing articulation beyond 90 degrees with a simple and efficient operating mechanism, expanding the range of surgical activities without requiring complex components.
Implementation Method 1
the drive member is formed from a resilient material that is rigidly connected to the clamp member within the tool assembly such that actuation of the operating mechanism causes the clamp member to rotate the tool assembly around the interface connection
Implementation Method 2
the operating mechanism includes a rack and pinion gear assembly in operable communication with the drive member, the rack and pinion gear assembly including a rack and a pinion gear engaged with the rack, the pinion gear coupled to the drive member, wherein linear motion of the rack effects rotational movement of the pinion gear to effect corresponding rotation of the drive member
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument, such as a surgical fastener applying apparatus, includes a tool assembly, an endoscopic body portion, and an articulation mechanism. The articulation mechanism articulates the tool assembly in relation to the endoscopic body portion over large arc segments while providing simple operating components. Thus, the range of operation of the surgical instrument and the types of surgical activities that can be performed by the surgeon can be expanded without at the same time requiring complex operating components.