Separable Sleeve Cutting Head for Minimizing Tissue Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutting apparatuses for joint cutting systems with robots face issues such as large diameter heads that risk damaging skin tissue, high maintenance costs due to integral sleeve and sleeve base units, and the need to frequently change cutting heads during surgery, leading to inefficiencies and increased surgery time.
Innovation Solution
A cutting apparatus with a separable sleeve and sleeve base, where the sleeve is a standalone hollow bar with support bearings to minimize thickness and reduce bending, allowing for reduced diameter and improved durability, and a cutting head with multiple equi-angular cutters for versatile cutting without changing tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the diameter of the head is reduced to minimize tissue damage, then skin and flesh damage is decreased, but the structural strength and stability of the cutting apparatus is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting apparatus is divided into separate functional components: a head for cutting, a shaft for transmission, and a sleeve for support. This segmentation allows the head diameter to be minimized for reduced tissue damage while the shaft and sleeve provide the necessary structural strength independently.
Solution Approach 2:
A sleeve is introduced as an intermediary component between the shaft and the external environment. The sleeve provides structural support and stability to the shaft, allowing the head to have a minimal diameter without compromising overall apparatus strength. The sleeve acts as a mediator that bears the mechanical load while the head performs the cutting function.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the sleeve diameter is minimized to reduce tissue damage, then skin and flesh damage is decreased, but the bending resistance and durability of the sleeve is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented from the cutting function. The sleeve is designed as a thin-walled structure optimized for minimal tissue damage, while the shaft and bearing assembly provide the necessary bending resistance and structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting apparatus uses composite construction with the sleeve made of thin-walled material for minimal invasiveness, while the shaft and bearing assembly provide structural strength. This composite approach allows the thin-walled sleeve to maintain durability despite minimal thickness.
3Strength
If the sleeve and sleeve base are made as an integral unit, then structural strength is improved, but maintenance cost increases and maintainability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve and sleeve base are designed as separable components rather than an integral unit. The sleeve can be independently removed and replaced without replacing the entire assembly, enabling cost-effective maintenance while the bearing assembly provides the necessary structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve is designed as a replaceable component that can be discarded after wear or damage and replaced with a new one, while the more expensive bearing assembly and sleeve base are retained and reused. This extends the service life of the apparatus and reduces maintenance costs.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cutting heads are used for different cutting tasks, then cutting versatility is improved, but surgery time increases due to frequent tool changes
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting head is designed with multiple cutting edges or adjustable configurations that enable it to perform various cutting tasks (bone surface cutting, hole drilling, tunnel cutting) with a single tool, eliminating the need for frequent tool changes during surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting head may incorporate adjustable or reconfigurable elements that allow it to adapt its cutting geometry or orientation during the surgical procedure, providing versatility without requiring physical tool changes.
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 reduces tissue damage, lowers maintenance costs, and enables rapid, precise surgery by minimizing trembling and allowing a single cutter to perform various cutting tasks, including both bone surface cutting and hole drilling without tool changes.
Implementation Method 1
support bearings which are equipped in the center hole and support the shaft 11 such that the shaft 11 is rotatable
Data Source
AI summary
A cutting apparatus for joint cutting system using robot includes a shaft combined with a motor in a part of a robot arm, a cutter having a cutting head at the end of the shaft, a sleeve in which the shaft is inserted, and a cutter support member having a sleeve base where the sleeve is fixed, characterized in that the sleeve is a standalone member of a hollow bar with a center hole and is separable from and combinable with the sleeve base. The sleeve and the sleeve base are so separable that it is possible to reinforce the strength of the sleeve, which retrains the bending force to the sleeve, though the diameter of the sleeve is minimized.