Surgical Fastener Preload Lock-out Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical instruments with preloaded fasteners often experience deformation due to extended exposure to preload during shipping and storage, affecting their mechanical and material properties, leading to inconsistent fastener deployment.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a lock-out mechanism that prevents the application of preload to fasteners until deployment, using a clip that can be attached and detached to allow the fastener deployment system to apply the necessary force only when the instrument is in use, and a tether to keep the lock-out attached to the tray to prevent misplacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fasteners are preloaded during shipping and storage, then the fastener deployment system is ready for immediate use, but the fasteners experience deformation and mechanical property degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The preload force is extracted or removed from the fasteners during shipping and storage by using a lock-out mechanism that prevents the follower from engaging the fasteners. The preload is only applied when needed during surgical use, after the lock-out is removed.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical instrument is prepared in advance with all components in place (fasteners loaded, follower positioned), but the actual preload application is prevented until the moment of use by the lock-out mechanism, which is removed just before deployment.
2Reliability
If a lock-out mechanism is added to prevent premature preload, then fastener integrity is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock-out mechanism is segmented into separate components: a lock-out element that can be attached to or removed from the surgical instrument shaft. This modular approach allows the preload prevention function to be added without completely redesigning the entire instrument.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock-out element acts as an intermediary component between the follower and the fasteners, physically blocking the follower from engaging the fasteners during storage and transport, thereby preventing premature preload application.
3Ease of operation
If the lock-out is made detachable for use, then fastener deployment can proceed, but the risk of misplacement in the operating room increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tether combines multiple functions: it attaches the lock-out element to the surgical instrument shaft, prevents the lock-out from being misplaced in the operating room, and can be easily detached when the lock-out needs to be removed for fastener deployment.
4Productivity
If multiple fasteners are held in the instrument, then procedure speed increases, but the preload application complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The follower is designed with a universal interface that can engage with multiple fasteners in a stack configuration. The single follower component interacts with the entire stack of fasteners simultaneously, applying preload to all of them through a unified mechanism rather than requiring separate control for each fastener.
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft. In other embodiments, the fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft towards a distal fastener deployment position. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a removable preload lock-out attached to the elongated shaft to prevent the follower from applying a preload to the fasteners.