Surgical Instrument Coupling Sleeve for Rigid Locking and Disassembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments struggle to provide a selective, rigid connection with objects while allowing for easy disassembly for cleaning and sterilization, particularly in modular systems like spinal fixation procedures, due to play and tolerancing in component interfaces.
Innovation Solution
The surgical instrument design includes an elongate shaft with longitudinal and circumferential grooves and a sleeve with a protrusion and lock mechanism, allowing for constrained axial and rotational movement, enabling a rigid connection with modular receiver heads and facilitating disassembly for cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If surgical instruments use modular components that can be disassembled for cleaning and sterilization, then ease of maintenance is improved, but the rigidity and reliability of the connection between components deteriorates due to play and tolerancing
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument employs a dynamic locking mechanism where a lockable element can transition between unlocked and locked positions. In the unlocked position, components can be easily separated for cleaning and sterilization. In the locked position, the mechanism provides a rigid, play-free connection that ensures reliable force transmission during surgical procedures. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction between ease of maintenance and connection rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical instrument is divided into separable modular components including a shaft, sleeve, and lockable element. These segmented parts can be independently removed and cleaned, improving maintainability. The segmentation is complemented by a locking mechanism that reassembles these segments into a rigid unified structure during use, addressing both ease of maintenance and connection rigidity requirements.
2Reliability
If surgical instruments are designed as single-piece units, then connection rigidity is improved, but ease of cleaning and sterilization deteriorates due to inability to disassemble
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument features a dynamic locking system that transitions between a locked state providing rigid connection and an unlocked state enabling disassembly. The lockable element can be actuated to secure components together for rigid force transmission, or released to allow separation for cleaning and sterilization, thus resolving the contradiction between connection rigidity and ease of cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument is designed with separable components including shaft, sleeve, and lockable element that can be divided for cleaning purposes. The segmentation is enabled by the lockable element mechanism that holds these segments together during use to maintain rigidity, but can be released to allow individual component removal and cleaning, addressing both connection rigidity and ease of cleaning requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If surgical instruments include multiple movable components for selective coupling, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument employs a dynamic locking mechanism with a lockable element that can be actuated to engage or disengage. This provides selective coupling capability - the ability to dynamically transition between connected and disconnected states - while maintaining relatively simple structure through the use of a straightforward locking mechanism rather than complex multi-component systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The lockable element is configured to be manually actuated by the user to engage or disengage the locking mechanism. This self-service design allows the instrument to achieve selective coupling capability through simple user operation without requiring complex automated or motorized systems, thus improving adaptability while minimizing device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Instruments (100) and methods for selectively coupling to an object are provided, for example surgical instruments that can form a rigid connection with an object and also be disassembled for cleaning, sterilization, etc. One embodiment includes an elongate shaft (102) with a longitudinal groove (126), a first partial circumferential groove (128) that intersects with a distal end of the longitudinal groove, and a second at least partial circumferential groove (132) formed distal to the first partial circumferential groove. The instrument also includes a sleeve (104) disposed over the elongate shaft that includes a protrusion (156) extending from an internal wall that is received within the longitudinal groove to constrain movement of the sleeve relative to the elongate shaft. The sleeve further includes a lock that interfaces with the second at least partial circumferential groove when the protrusion is disposed in the first partial circumferential groove to further selectively constrain axial and rotational movement of the sleeve.