Surgical Instrument Fixing Device Protrusions Grooves Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical instruments used in robotic surgeries require precise alignment and fixation to ensure accurate positioning, as micrometer-level errors can significantly impact surgical outcomes, and existing solutions fail to effectively prevent deviations from the aligned position.

Innovation Solution

A surgical instrument fixing device comprising a first body with a first accommodating part and a first fastening part featuring protrusions, and a second body with a second accommodating part and a second fastening part having grooves, designed to securely couple and align the surgical instrument, utilizing a drive unit for precise positioning and elastic support to maintain alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a surgical instrument is fixed using a simple holding structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the positioning precision deteriorates due to inability to maintain exact alignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing device is divided into multiple independent bodies (first body, second body, third body) each with specific functions. The first body provides initial holding, the second body with protrusions and grooves provides precise alignment, and the third body provides additional support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall positioning precision without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The structures are nested within each other: the surgical instrument is accommodated in the first body, which is then coupled with the second body that has protrusions fitting into grooves, and the third body provides additional support. This nested arrangement allows multiple levels of precision fixing to be integrated into a compact structure, improving positioning precision while controlling device complexity through efficient space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple bodies are used to fix the surgical instrument, then the positioning precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to complex coupling procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidease of coupling
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusions and grooves are designed with asymmetric geometries that guide the coupling process. The protrusions on the second body fit into corresponding grooves, creating a self-aligning mechanism that automatically positions the bodies correctly during assembly. This asymmetric design simplifies the coupling operation by providing inherent alignment guidance, making the multi-body structure easier to operate despite the increased number of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling mechanism between bodies is designed to be self-aligning and self-locking. The protrusions and grooves automatically guide the bodies into correct alignment during assembly, and the elastic member provides self-adjusting force to maintain the coupling. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures or additional adjustment mechanisms, improving ease of operation while maintaining high alignment precision through the inherent design of the coupling interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Strength

If the protrusions and grooves are made with large volume, then the coupling strength is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to more complex machining requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling strengthVSAvoidease of machining
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusions and grooves are designed with optimized local geometries that concentrate the coupling function at specific locations. The elastic member is positioned to provide localized elastic support at the coupling interface. This local quality approach allows the coupling strength to be achieved through strategically placed features rather than uniformly thick structures, improving ease of manufacture by reducing the overall complexity of machining while maintaining sufficient coupling strength at the critical interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4527338A1Surgical instruments holding apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.03.26 ROEN SURGICAL INC
  • EP4527338A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4527338A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4527338A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Provided is a surgical instrument fixing device including: a first body to which a surgical instrument is fixed; and a second body which is spaced apart from or in close contact with the first body and to which the surgical instrument is fixed. Here, the first body includes a first body part including a first accommodating part in which the surgical instrument is accommodated and a first fastening part including a plurality of protrusions protruding toward the second body. Also, the second body includes a second body part including a second accommodating part in which the surgical instrument is accommodated and a second fastening part including a plurality of grooves recessed from the second body part toward the first body. Also, each of the plurality of protrusions and the plurality of grooves are arranged along a center of the first or second fastening part.