Surgical Adapter Assembly for Repeatable Mechanical-Electrical Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adapter assemblies for surgical systems face challenges in reliably and repeatedly establishing mechanical and electrical connections between electromechanical surgical devices and surgical loading units, due to the complexity of these systems.

Innovation Solution

The adapter assembly includes a housing connected to the surgical device, an outer tube connected to the loading unit, a force/rotation transmitting/converting assembly, and an electrical assembly with a circuit board and connector pins to ensure secure mechanical and electrical interconnection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adapter assembly complexity increases to accommodate multiple drive shafts and drive members, then connection reliability improves, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidease of connection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter assembly is divided into modular components including a housing, outer tube, force/rotation transmitting/converting assembly, and electrical assembly. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while simplifying the overall assembly process, as components can be manufactured and tested separately before final integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter assembly is designed to universally connect to multiple different surgical loading units with various drive member configurations. The standardized interface design allows a single adapter assembly to work with different loading units, reducing the need for multiple specialized adapters and simplifying the connection process across different surgical applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If adapter assembly design becomes more complex to ensure robust interconnection, then connection reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterconnection reliabilityVSAvoidadapter assembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines mechanical connection functions (housing, outer tube, force/rotation transmitting/converting assembly) and electrical connection functions (electrical assembly with circuit board and connector pins) into a single integrated adapter assembly. This merging ensures that mechanical and electrical connections are established simultaneously and reliably, while the modular internal structure prevents excessive overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter assembly employs a nested structure where the electrical assembly is supported within the housing, and the force/rotation transmitting/converting assembly is positioned within the outer tube. This nesting arrangement allows multiple functional components to be compactly integrated without increasing the external dimensions excessively, maintaining reliability while controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS20250120709A1Adapter assembly for interconnecting electromechanical surgical devices and surgical loading units, and surgical systems thereof

Publication Date: 2025.04.17 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to adapter assemblies for use with and to electrically and mechanically interconnect electromechanical surgical devices and surgical loading units, and to surgical systems including hand held electromechanical surgical devices and adapter assemblies for connecting surgical loading units to the hand held electromechanical surgical devices.