Dual-Mode Surgical Cutting Assembly for Window and Bend Reorientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments face challenges with limited access, maneuverability, and visibility, particularly in confined anatomical areas like the ear, nose, and throat, due to the orientation of the cutting window and bend, requiring repositioning and reorientation, which is often ergonomically unfavorable.
Innovation Solution
A surgical cutting assembly with an actuator assembly that allows selective adjustment of the cutting window and bend through a rotatable wheel in two modes, enabling intuitive and ergonomic reorientation without removing the instrument, using a Hirth joint mechanism with gears to facilitate smooth transitions between modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the surgical instrument is removed and reintroduced to change the approach, then the desired anatomical access can be achieved, but the surgical procedure becomes less efficient and more time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument incorporates a rotatable wheel mechanism that allows dynamic adjustment of the cutting window orientation and tube assembly bend during the surgical procedure. This enables the surgeon to change the approach angle without removing the instrument, maintaining continuous access to the anatomical site while improving procedural efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The tube assembly is divided into segmented components including an outer tube, intermediate tube, and inner tube that can rotate independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows selective reorientation of the cutting window and bend orientation through the wheel mechanism, providing versatile anatomical access while maintaining instrument stability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cutting window and bend are fixed in a specific orientation, then the instrument structure remains simple, but the surgeon cannot adapt to different anatomical approaches without removing the instrument
Solution Approach 1:
A rotatable wheel mechanism is integrated into the instrument to provide dynamic reorientation capability. The wheel can be rotated to adjust the cutting window orientation and bend angle, allowing the surgeon to adapt to different anatomical approaches. The mechanism includes gears and engagement features that enable controlled rotation while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument employs a nested tube structure where an intermediate tube is disposed within an outer tube, and an inner tube is disposed within the intermediate tube. The wheel mechanism engages with these nested tubes to rotate them relative to each other, achieving reorientation through a compact, space-efficient design that minimizes overall instrument complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If the wheel is positioned in a single axial location, then the actuator assembly structure is simplified, but only one component can be adjusted at a time
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator assembly is segmented into multiple functional zones along the wheel's axial length. The wheel includes a first portion that engages with the cutting window orientation mechanism and a second portion that engages with the bend orientation mechanism. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each component by positioning the wheel at different axial locations, providing versatile control while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable wheel serves multiple functions: it can rotate to adjust cutting window orientation, rotate to adjust bend orientation, and be positioned at different axial locations to engage different adjustment mechanisms. This multi-functionality consolidates multiple adjustment capabilities into a single actuator component, reducing the number of separate controls the surgeon must manage
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical cutting assembly with an actuator assembly operable in a first mode and a second mode. A wheel is rotatable in a first axial position to rotate an intermediate tube for orienting a cutting window, and rotatable in a second axial position to rotate an outer tube for orienting a bend of a tube assembly. The actuator assembly may be operably coupled to the intermediate tube and operably decoupled from the outer tube in the first mode, and operably coupled to the outer tube and operably decoupled from the intermediate tube in the second mode. The actuator assembly may include a first gear, a second gear secured to the outer tube, and a third gear secured to the intermediate tube. A distal wheel portion and a proximal wheel portion may be discrete components coupled to one another to define a cavity for subcomponents of the actuator assembly.