Separable Surgical Instrument Motors for Sterilization Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical instruments with integrated motors face challenges in maintaining motor functionality and efficiency during sterilization and cleaning processes, leading to potential damage and reduced performance.

Innovation Solution

The surgical instruments are designed with separable motors and motor control circuits, featuring a modular battery and drive mechanism housed in a sealed cavity to protect against sterilization and cleaning, along with a motor health monitoring system using sensors and a controller to ensure optimal operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If motors are integrated into surgical instruments, then device functionality is improved, but motor durability deteriorates due to damage during sterilization and cleaning processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidmotor durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The motor is separated from the surgical instrument body into a distinct, replaceable component. The instrument includes a motor housing that can be detached from the main body, allowing the motor to be replaced after sterilization or cleaning damage without discarding the entire instrument. This segmentation enables differential treatment of components with different sterilization requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The motor is extracted as a separable component with its own housing that can be removed from the surgical instrument. The motor housing includes engagement features that allow it to be coupled to and decoupled from the instrument body, enabling the motor to be taken out for replacement or maintenance while preserving the main instrument structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If motors are made separable to protect against sterilization damage, then motor durability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor durabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The motor housing is merged with the instrument body through engagement features that create a unified structure during operation. The housing includes engagement protrusions and recessions that automatically align and secure the motor to the instrument body, providing structural integration without requiring permanent attachment or complex assembly mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the instrument have different structural properties optimized for their specific functions. The motor housing is designed with localized engagement features at specific positions to provide secure attachment, while other portions maintain simplicity. The housing includes reinforced areas at engagement points and streamlined areas elsewhere, optimizing both durability and simplicity where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12539118B2Surgical instruments with separable motors and motor control circuits

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL

AI summary

A surgical instrument comprising a motor, a user interface, and a control circuit is disclosed. The motor is configured to drive an actuation of an end effector. The control circuit is configured to prevent an activation of the motor, display instructions for replacing the motor via the user interface, detect installation of a replacement motor, and allow an activation of the replacement motor.