Segmented Articulation Joint With Bending Member for Lower-Cost Sterility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing articulation joints in steerable medical devices are expensive to manufacture and prone to cross-patient contamination, necessitating the development of more affordable and contamination-resistant solutions.
Innovation Solution
The articulation joint is designed with a plurality of articulation links, each featuring an elongate body with radially extending arms and lumens, incorporating a bending member such as an elastomeric rod or spring, and a control member positioned within the lumens to facilitate controlled bending and movement, while reducing material costs and enhancing sterilization resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If articulation joints are made from stainless steel or other biocompatible materials, then the device can withstand repeated sterilizations and maintain biocompatibility, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The articulation joint is divided into multiple separate articulation links that can be individually manufactured and then assembled. This segmentation allows each link to be produced using cost-effective methods while maintaining the overall structural integrity and sterilization resistance of the complete joint assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters by using alternative materials that offer comparable sterilization resistance and biocompatibility to stainless steel but at lower manufacturing costs. This parameter change enables cost reduction while maintaining the essential reliability requirements for medical device sterilization.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If articulation joints are made from expensive biocompatible materials, then cross-patient contamination risk is reduced, but the overall device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the articulation joint into multiple links with lumens for control members, the design enables better containment and control of potential contamination pathways. Each link can be independently managed regarding sterilization and contamination control, reducing overall risk while allowing for cost-effective manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented articulation link design with integrated control member lumens enables the creation of more affordable device configurations. The structural design allows for cost-effective materials and manufacturing methods while maintaining adequate contamination protection for the intended use lifecycle.
3Manufacturing precision
If the articulation joint includes multiple articulation links with lumens and control members, then the bending control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the control member pathway directly into the articulation link structure by incorporating lumens within each link. This integration combines what could be separate components into a unified structure, achieving precise control member routing and articulation movement without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each articulation link serves multiple functions: it provides structural articulation movement, contains control members within its lumens, and maintains the shaft's flexibility. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby controlling device complexity while achieving precise bending control.
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
This design provides a cost-effective, contamination-reduced articulation joint that maintains the necessary stiffness and flexibility for minimally invasive medical procedures, reducing the risk of cross-patient contamination and lowering manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a bending member positioned within the first lumen of the elongate body, wherein the bending member may include at least one of an elastomeric rod and spring
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an articulation joint that can include a plurality of articulation links, wherein each articulation link can include an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer surface, and a first lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. Each articulation link can further include a plurality of arms extending radially outward from the elongate body, wherein each arm includes an inner end attached to the outer surface of the elongate body and a second lumen extending from a proximal side of the arm to a distal side of the arm. The articulation joint can also include a bending member positioned within the first lumen of the elongate body and a control member positioned within a plurality of second lumens, wherein each of the plurality of second lumens includes a common longitudinal axis.