Surgical Blade Tip Package With Detent Retention Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current packaging for surgical blade tips is unsafe during assembly due to exposed cutting edges and poses challenges in sterilization and collet management, leading to potential contamination and misplacement issues.
Innovation Solution
A package with a body and detents that securely retain the surgical blade tip, allowing for easy mounting onto a handle while minimizing contamination, featuring a retentive mechanism that deflects with torque to facilitate rotation and disengagement for safe handling and disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If surgical blade tips are assembled by hand or mechanical device, then assembly can be performed, but exposure to cutting edges creates safety hazards and contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging is divided into separate functional zones: a sterile barrier layer, a retentive cavity, and a release mechanism. This segmentation allows the blade tip to be isolated from the external environment during storage and assembly, reducing contamination risk while maintaining safe handling through the release mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging acts as an intermediary between the sterile blade tip and the user's hands. It provides a controlled interface through the release mechanism that allows safe removal of the blade tip without direct exposure to cutting edges, thereby reducing contamination risk while maintaining ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If collets are used for assembly, then reusable handling is enabled, but collets are often misplaced or lost and must be replaced
Solution Approach 1:
The release mechanism is merged with the packaging structure itself, eliminating the need for separate collets. The packaging provides both the retentive cavity and the release function through an integrated mechanism, ensuring reliable retention while enabling easy disposal of the entire unit including the blade tip.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging is designed as a disposable unit that includes the blade tip and release mechanism. Instead of reusing collets that can be lost, the entire packaging is discarded after single use, eliminating the reliability issues associated with collet retention while maintaining adaptability for single-use surgical applications.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If blade tips are stored in packaging, then contamination can be minimized, but safe removal and assembly requires additional mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The release mechanism utilizes dynamic properties of the packaging material or structure to enable controlled release. The mechanism transitions from a locked retentive state during storage to an unlocked state during removal, allowing safe disposal while maintaining contamination protection throughout the storage and handling period.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging provides self-service through an automatic or easily activated release mechanism that allows users to remove the blade tip without requiring separate tools or complex procedures. The mechanism is integrated into the packaging itself, eliminating the need for external collets or assembly devices while maintaining contamination protection.
4Reliability
If detents are used to retain the adaptor, then secure retention is achieved, but torque must be applied to rotate and disengage
Solution Approach 1:
The detent mechanism is designed with dynamic characteristics that provide secure retention at low positions but allow easy release at high positions. The detents engage positively during normal handling to ensure retention security, but can be easily deflected or released by applying torque in the opposite direction, enabling convenient disengagement without excessive effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The detent and recess geometry is designed with asymmetric features that provide strong engagement in one direction (retention) but allow easy release in the opposite direction (disengagement). This asymmetric design ensures reliable retention during normal use while reducing the torque required for intentional removal, balancing retention security with ease of operation.
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 solution ensures safe handling and assembly of surgical blade tips by maintaining the blade in a spaced, sterile relationship, preventing contamination and facilitating easy mounting and dismounting, thus enhancing operational safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The detents are configured to apply a retentive force to the adaptor to retain the adaptor in a first position
Implementation Method 2
configured to deflect with a predetermined amount of torque being applied to the surgical blade tip so as to permit the adaptor to rotate relative to the body from the first position to a second position
Data Source
AI summary
A package for a surgical blade tip is provided herein. The package cooperates with the surgical blade tip to properly retain it and facilitate mounting onto a surgical blade handle. In one aspect, the invention includes a package having a body with a side wall and at least two detents extending inwardly from the side wall. In addition, a surgical blade tip is provided having an adaptor with a blade extending therefrom. The adaptor includes at least two recesses formed therein. The surgical blade tip is disposed in the package with the detents being at least partially inserted into the recesses. Also, the detents are configured to apply a retentive force to the adaptor to retain the adaptor in a first position and configured to deflect with a predetermined amount of torque being applied to the surgical blade tip so as to permit the adaptor to rotate from the first position to a second position where the detents are not inserted into the recesses. Advantageously, with the subject invention, a package may be provided which maintains a blade of a surgical blade tip in spaced relationship so as to minimize contamination thereof. In addition, the interengagement of the detents and the recesses allows for proper retention of the surgical blade tip during mounting onto a surgical blade handle.