Surgical Drive Shaft Flanges Prevent Jaw Tilting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instrument drive shafts face challenges in preventing jaw members from tilting during actuation, which requires additional length and space within the instrument, complicating manufacturing and design.
Innovation Solution
A drive shaft comprising two separate elongate elements with flanges extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, which restrict lateral movement and prevent tilting, allowing for efficient actuation of end effectors while minimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elongate slot is provided in the drive shaft to receive the pivot pin, then the jaw members are constrained from tilting, but the drive shaft requires additional length and space within the instrument
Solution Approach 1:
The drive shaft is divided into two separate elongate drive members instead of a single continuous shaft. Each drive member has a flange extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and they work together to constrain the jaw members without requiring an elongate slot, thereby reducing the space occupied within the instrument.
Solution Approach 2:
The constraint mechanism is moved from a longitudinal dimension (elongate slot along the shaft) to a lateral dimension (flanges extending perpendicular to the shaft axis). The flanges abut against the outer shaft walls to prevent lateral movement and tilting, eliminating the need for the elongate slot and reducing overall drive shaft volume.
2Reliability
If the drive shaft is designed to prevent lateral movement, then the end effector does not tilt during actuation, but the design and manufacturing become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the drive shaft into two separate drive members with flanges, the manufacturing complexity is reduced compared to machining an elongate slot. The flanged structure can be manufactured using standard processes and assembled, simplifying production while maintaining end effector stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flanges act as intermediary elements between the drive members and the outer shaft. These flanges provide a simple abutment interface that prevents lateral movement without requiring complex slot-and-pin mechanisms, thereby easing manufacturing while ensuring stability.
3Ease of operation
If flanges extend in opposite directions, then ease of assembly is improved and space is provided for connection wires, but the drive shaft structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The drive shaft is segmented into two separate members with flanges extending in opposite directions. This segmentation naturally creates space between the flanges for routing connection wires while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that is easy to assemble.
Solution Approach 2:
The flanged structure serves multiple functions: it prevents lateral movement of the drive members, provides structural support, and creates pathways for connection wires. This multi-functionality is achieved without significantly increasing structural complexity, as the same flange elements perform all these roles.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved drive shaft for controlling an end effector of surgical instrument having advantages over the prior art, specifically, the drive shaft includes two separate elongate elements, each including a flange at its proximal end for restricting the lateral movement of the drive shaft when installed within an outer shaft of the instrument. The dimensions of the flanges are such that they fit within the outer shaft with minimal clearance. This allows the drive shaft to be moved longitudinally within the outer shaft to actuate an end effector whilst minimizing any lateral movement. This consequently prevents the end effector from tilting as it is actuated. The drive members are arranged so that the flanges extend in opposite directions perpendicular to the length of the drive shaft. This helps to improve ease of assembly and provides space within the outer shaft for features such as connection wires and the like.