Staple Instrument Rotational Drive Shaft Converter Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing staple instruments face challenges in reliably opening and closing compression staples due to the large rebounding forces generated by shape memory materials like nitinol alloys, which can lead to inefficient bone staple insertion and adjustment during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A staple instrument featuring a housing with a rotational drive shaft, converter coupling, and linkage system that converts rotational motion into expansion motion to separate and contract jaws, allowing for the reliable opening and closing of staples, designed to withstand the high forces associated with superelastic staples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a staple instrument is designed to open and close compression staples made from shape memory material, then the staple can exert inward compressive force on bone segments, but the large rebounding force generated by the shape memory material makes it difficult for the instrument to reliably withstand and repeatedly perform the opening and closing action
Solution Approach 1:
The staple instrument employs a dynamic mechanism with movable jaws that can open and close to accommodate the staple legs. The linkage system converts rotational motion into the expansion and contraction of the jaws, allowing the instrument to dynamically adapt to the high forces generated by the shape memory material while maintaining reliable operation through controlled mechanical motion.
2Ease of operation
If the legs of the staple are splayed for insertion or adjustment, then the staple can be inserted into bone or adjusted, but the splaying action generates a large rebounding force that challenges the instrument's structural integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The staple instrument is divided into distinct functional segments: a housing, a rotational drive shaft, a converter coupling, a linkage system, and separate jaws. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the linkage and housing specifically designed to distribute and withstand the high rebounding forces generated during staple splaying, while keeping the jaws lightweight for ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The converter coupling and linkage system act as intermediary mechanisms between the rotational drive shaft and the jaws. These intermediaries translate the user's rotational input into the linear expansion motion needed to open the jaws, while also serving as force transmission paths that can withstand and distribute the high rebounding forces generated by the shape memory material, protecting the overall structural integrity.
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
The instrument effectively manages the high forces required to open and close staples, ensuring precise insertion and removal of staples, reducing stress on the device and improving the efficiency of bone staple placement and retrieval during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
converter coupling configured to convert rotational motion of the rotational drive shaft into expansion motion of the staple holder
Implementation Method 2
These staples are commonly made from shape memory material, such as a nitinol alloy. When the legs of the staple are splayed, the shape memory material tends to bias the legs towards their initial resting positions, thereby causing the legs to exert an inward compressive force on bone or bone segments.
Implementation Method 3
linkage configured to separate the jaws via an expansion motion
Data Source
AI summary
A staple instrument is provided. The staple instrument includes a staple holder, a rotational drive shaft, and a linkage operatively coupled to the staple holder. The linkage is configured to expand the staple holder via an expansion motion imparted thereon. A converter coupling intermediate the rotational drive shaft and the linkage converts rotational motion of the rotational drive shaft into expansion of the staple holder. The staple instrument also includes a housing that supports the linkage, converter coupling, and rotational drive shaft. The rotational drive shaft has a stop surface that engages a corresponding surface formed in the housing to inhibit proximal translation of the rotational drive shaft relative to the housing.