Ergonomic Surgical Instrument Handle with Rotating Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard surgical scalpel handles lack ergonomic design, leading to discomfort, slippage, and limited control for both left- and right-handed users, particularly during deep surgery, where fine adjustments are required, causing wrist strain and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument featuring a rod with a handle that is rotatable for optimal grip comfort and a locking mechanism, along with a sliding sleeve for finger accommodation, allowing angular displacement and preventing handle rotation when securely positioned, and a tool rest for supporting the instrument during surgery, enabling precise control and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If standard flat scalpel handles are used, then the structure is simple, but the grip is uncomfortable and causes finger slippage
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is designed with a contoured, curved surface that follows the natural anatomy of the hand, providing ergonomic grip surfaces for the thumb, index finger, and middle finger. This curved geometry prevents finger slippage and improves comfort during prolonged surgical procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the handle have different surface properties and geometries tailored to specific finger contact points. The handle features localized gripping surfaces with appropriate friction characteristics for each finger, optimizing control while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If triangular cross-section handles are used for orientation, then alignment is improved, but one edge digs into the user's finger causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The handle employs curved, rounded surfaces instead of sharp edges to distribute finger pressure evenly across multiple contact points. This eliminates the digging effect while maintaining tactile feedback for proper orientation and alignment during surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle features an asymmetric contoured design with varying curvature radii that provides both alignment control and ergonomic comfort. The asymmetric geometry guides proper hand positioning while the smoothed transitions prevent pressure concentration on any single point.
3Ease of operation
If flat body handles with textured surfaces are used, then gripping surface is provided, but the handle is too small or narrow for comfortable extended grip
Solution Approach 1:
The handle design transitions from a two-dimensional flat surface to a three-dimensional contoured form that wraps around the fingers. This adds depth and volume to the gripping surface, providing adequate surface area for comfortable extended use while maintaining a compact overall profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle features expanded curved surfaces that provide increased contact area for the fingers without significantly increasing the handle's length or width. The ergonomic contours distribute the grip across a larger surface area, reducing pressure points for extended surgical procedures.
4Device complexity
If axially fixed finger grip is used, then the structure is simple, but left- and right-handed users experience discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is designed as a universal gripping interface that accommodates both left- and right-handed users through symmetric contoured surfaces. The ergonomic design provides equivalent comfort and control for users of either hand preference without requiring different configurations or mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument (10, 100) configured to facilitate gripping and manual adjustment by a left-handed or righted-handed user. The surgical instrument includes a rod (11) having a first end (12a) attachable to a working end (13, 113) of the instrument via a mount (16). The rod has a second end (12b) coupled to a handle (14) having rotational directionality for gripping by a first hand of the user. The handle is rotatable about the rod so as to allow the user to adjust an angular displacement of the user's finger relative to the working end, and a locking member (20, 146) prevents rotation of the handle relative to the rod when the beveled indent is optimally located relative to the working end.