Steerable Medical Device Handle for Independent Rotation and Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices often require uncomfortable manual manipulation to alter the deflection of the distal tip in multiple planes, leading to user fatigue and procedural difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with a handle that allows for the rotation of a distal portion relative to a proximal portion via a rotatable connector, incorporating an articulation mechanism that controls shaft articulation independently of the connector's rotation, using a coupler and sliders to translate and rotate the shaft without gripping the entire handle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the user manually manipulates the medical device to alter deflection in multiple planes, then the device can be steered to different orientations, but the user experiences wrist and hand discomfort and fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is divided into a proximal portion and a distal portion that can rotate independently relative to each other. The articulation mechanism is segmented into separate components: a coupler for translation control and sliders for rotation control. This segmentation allows independent control of shaft deflection and handle rotation, eliminating the need for uncomfortable wrist manipulation while maintaining full steering capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the connector is rotated to change the plane of shaft deflection, then multi-plane articulation is achieved, but the entire handle must be gripped and manipulated uncomfortably
Solution Approach 1:
The articulation mechanism is nested within the handle structure. The coupler and sliders are contained within the proximal and distal portions of the handle, with the articulation mechanism extending through the connector. This nesting allows the complex articulation functionality to be integrated into the handle without increasing its external dimensions or requiring the user to grip the entire handle for rotation.
3Ease of operation
If the coupler is made translatable independent of connector rotation, then shaft deflection can be controlled separately from handle orientation, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler acts as an intermediary component between the actuator and the articulation members. It translates actuator motion into shaft deflection independently of connector rotation. The sliders serve as intermediaries between the rotatable connector and the articulation mechanism, allowing rotation control to be decoupled from deflection control. These intermediary components add functional complexity but are designed to be mechanically simple, consisting mainly of sliding and rotating interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
Medical devices and related methods useful for facilitating the rotation of a medical device to multiple planes are described. The medical device may include a handle that comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion coupled to the proximal portion by a connector configured to be gripped by a user. The distal portion may be rotatable relative to the proximal portion by rotation of the connector and an articulation mechanism may be disposed within the proximal portion and the distal portion of the handle and extend through the connector. The articulation mechanism may be configured to control articulation of a shaft coupled to the handle and includes a coupler translatable relative to the connector independent of rotating the connector.