Surgical Cartridge Driver Detection via Planar Blade Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing surgical stapling cartridges are labor-intensive and inefficient, making it difficult to determine if too many or too few drivers are inserted, which can lead to instrument jams or incomplete stapling, posing risks to patients.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a base, a carriage, and a tooling plate with planar blades that move horizontally and vertically to detect excess drivers in the cartridge slots, using a sensor to record any deviation from the correct alignment, allowing for rapid identification of incorrectly loaded cartridges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inspection methods are used to check driver insertion, then labor intensity is reduced, but measurement precision and detection speed deteriorate due to the small size of drivers and apertures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated optical sensing system. The sensor detects the presence and position of drivers in apertures by detecting light blockage or reflection patterns, eliminating the need for human operators to visually examine tiny components. This substitution enables both high precision detection and rapid testing of multiple cartridges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical field as an intermediary between the driver insertion state and the detection system. Light is used as a mediator to indirectly sense the presence of drivers without requiring direct physical contact or complex mechanical probing, enabling non-contact, high-speed detection with high precision.
2Reliability
If no testing mechanism is implemented, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to undetected excess or missing drivers causing instrument jams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the testing function into modular components: a carriage system that positions individual apertures, sensors that detect driver presence, and a control system that records results. This segmentation allows the complex testing function to be implemented through simple, reusable modules rather than a monolithic complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The testing apparatus is designed to be self-testing through the natural interaction between the carriage movement and sensor detection. As the carriage moves through each aperture position, the sensor automatically detects whether a driver is present, eliminating the need for external intervention or complex test procedures.
3Productivity
If rapid testing is implemented to improve productivity, then testing speed increases, but measurement precision may worsen due to reduced inspection time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous testing by moving the carriage through all aperture positions in a single continuous motion while the sensor continuously monitors for driver presence. This eliminates idle time between measurements and maintains high detection accuracy throughout the rapid testing process, as the sensing action is uninterrupted and consistent.
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
Enables efficient testing of surgical cartridges to ensure the correct number of drivers are inserted, preventing jams and ensuring proper stapling, thereby enhancing patient safety and streamlining the assembly process.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor is mounted, preferably to the carriage through other members, to detect movement of the plate relative to the carriage
Data Source
AI summary
A testing method and apparatus for determining whether surgical cartridges have excess drivers. A blade is disposed in the slots of the cartridge and displaced while it contacts the floor of the slot. If an excess driver is encountered, the blade is displaced away from the floor and this movement is detected, preferably by an electronic sensor. The apparatus includes a base plate to which a carriage is mounted, either directly or through other structural members. The carriage is configured to slide along a pair of parallel shafts, and is driven by a pneumatic ram or other linear prime mover. A tooling plate is moveably mounted to the carriage, and the blade is mounted to the tooling plate. Movement by the blade due to excess drivers results in movement by the tooling plate relative to the carriage, which is detected and recorded, such as by a computer.