Surgical Instrument Decoupling Mechanism for Loading-Unit Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromechanical surgical instruments face challenges in accommodating various surgical loading units with different requirements such as torque or axial displacement without compromising performance or causing damage.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a decoupling mechanism that includes a driver coupling, overstroke sled, and distal driver, allowing transition between states to accommodate different loading units by either advancing or disengaging the drive assembly, thereby preventing excess rotation or torque.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single drive assembly is used for all loading units, then device complexity is reduced, but performance requirements for different loading units cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The drive assembly incorporates a decoupling mechanism that dynamically transitions between coupled and decoupled states. The sled can move axially within the driver coupling, allowing the system to adapt its mechanical connection based on the specific loading unit requirements, thus providing versatility without permanent complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The drive assembly is segmented into separable components: the driver coupling, the sled, and the distal driver. This segmentation allows the sled to be positioned at different locations along the driver coupling or completely disengaged, enabling the same drive assembly to accommodate different torque and axial displacement requirements of various loading units
2Force
If the drive assembly is rigidly coupled to the actuator, then torque transmission is maximized, but excess rotation or torque can damage components
Solution Approach 1:
The sled acts as an intermediary element between the driver coupling and the distal driver. It can engage to transmit torque and axial force efficiently, or disengage to prevent damage from excess rotation or torque, thus protecting components while maintaining force transmission when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The decoupling mechanism provides beforehand protection by allowing the sled to disengage before damage occurs. The mechanism is designed to accommodate variations in rotation and torque, cushioning against potential component damage from mismatched loading unit requirements
3Reliability
If the drive assembly is decoupled from the actuator, then component protection is improved, but axial displacement capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the actuator and drive assembly is dynamic rather than fixed. The sled can engage to provide full axial displacement capability or disengage for protection, allowing the system to optimize between these two states based on operational needs and loading unit requirements
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 the surgical instrument to operate with multiple loading units of varying requirements, minimizing damage to components and ensuring consistent functionality across different surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The proximal driver is rotatably coupled to an actuator of the surgical instrument and threadably coupled to the overstroke sled
Implementation Method 2
The distal driver may be threadably coupled to the drive assembly of the loading unit such that rotation of the distal driver causes axial displacement of the drive assembly
Implementation Method 3
The driver coupling may include a spring in the bore of the driver coupling positioned to bias the overstroke sled towards the slots of the driver coupling
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical instrument includes a decoupling mechanism and a loading unit. The decoupling mechanism includes a driver coupling, an overstroke sled, a proximal driver, and a distal driver. The overstroke sled includes bosses configured to slidably engage slots of the driver coupling. The distal driver is coupled to a housing of the driver coupling for concomitant rotation therewith. A drive assembly of the loading unit is coupled to the distal driver such that rotation of the distal driver causes axial displacement of the drive assembly. The decoupling mechanism is transitionable between a first state, in which, rotation of the proximal driver of the decoupling mechanism rotates the driver coupling and the distal driver, thereby advancing the drive assembly, and a second state, in which, rotation of the proximal driver disengages the overstroke sled from the driver coupling to enable rotation of the overstroke sled relative to the driver coupling.