Surgical Stapler Adapter Cable Assembly for Stress-Resistant Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical device adapter assemblies face challenges in withstanding mechanical stresses and require reliable electrical connectors that can handle the mechanical stresses encountered during use, while also simplifying manufacturing and assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
The adapter assembly incorporates a flexible cable with flexible fingers that are soldered to contact clips, which are attached to a rotatable lock member, reducing mechanical stress on the electrical connections and eliminating the need for additional wires, cutting, and stripping processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electrical connectors are used in adapter assemblies, then electrical connections can be established, but the connectors cannot withstand the mechanical stresses encountered during use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electrical connection function with the mechanical structure by integrating electrical contacts directly into the adapter assembly housing and cable assembly, creating a unified component that simultaneously provides both electrical connectivity and mechanical strength to withstand surgical use stresses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible fingers that can bend and deform elastically to accommodate mechanical stresses and misalignments during assembly and use, allowing the electrical connection to maintain contact while absorbing mechanical shocks and movements encountered in surgical procedures
2Reliability
If multiple wires are used for electrical connections, then signal transmission can be achieved, but the manufacturing and assembly processes become complex and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual wire connections into a single integrated flexible cable assembly with pre-attached electrical contacts, eliminating the need for separate wire routing, cutting, and stripping operations while maintaining all necessary signal transmission pathways
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical contacts are pre-attached to the flexible cable fingers during manufacturing, so that during surgical device assembly, the entire cable assembly can be installed as a single unit without requiring on-site wire preparation, cutting, stripping, or individual contact attachment operations
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 solution enhances the reliability of electrical connections, simplifies manufacturing, and reduces labor-intensive processes by using a single flexible cable to transfer signals, thereby improving the durability and usability of surgical device adapter assemblies.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible finger electrically coupled to the contact clip
Implementation Method 2
flexible fingers that are soldered to contact clips
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical device includes a handle assembly including a controller and a first electrical connector. The surgical device also includes an adapter assembly having: a tubular housing having a proximal end portion configured to couple to the handle assembly, and a distal end portion; a second electrical connector disposed at the proximal end portion and configured to couple to the first electrical connector; an electrical contact assembly disposed at the distal end portion; and a wire harness disposed within the tubular housing and interconnecting the second electrical connector and the electrical contact assembly. The surgical device also includes a surgical end effector configured to couple to the distal end portion of the adapter assembly, the surgical end effector includes an electrical contact configured to couple to the electrical contact assembly.