Surgical Handpiece Sensor Alignment via Magnetic Lever
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional powered surgical instruments have limited adjustability and ergonomic issues due to fixed control levers and sensors that are difficult to align, requiring larger instrument sizes to accommodate multiple sensors for speed control.
Innovation Solution
A powered surgical handpiece with a pivotally coupled lever and actuator assembly, featuring a magnet and sensors aligned along the central axis of the housing, allowing for adjustable speed control and improved ergonomic design by varying the magnetic field sensed by the sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If four sensors are disposed in the housing to detect the magnetic field when the control lever is positioned in predefined positions, then the operating speed can be controlled, but the alignment of sensors within the housing becomes difficult and the instrument size must be large enough to accommodate all sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensing function from multiple distributed sensors and concentrates it into a single sensor positioned at the distal end of the housing. This single sensor detects the magnetic field regardless of the control lever's angular position, eliminating the complexity of aligning multiple sensors while maintaining speed control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The single sensor at the distal end serves multiple functions: it detects the magnetic field from the magnet in the control lever at any angular position, determines both speed control signals and on/off signals, and eliminates the need for multiple specialized sensors for different lever positions.
2Ease of operation
If four sensors are disposed in the housing to detect the magnetic field when the control lever is positioned in predefined positions, then the operating speed can be controlled, but the instrument size must be large enough to accommodate all sensors in their aligned positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensing function from multiple distributed sensors and concentrates it into a single sensor positioned at the distal end of the housing. This single sensor detects the magnetic field regardless of the control lever's angular position, eliminating the need for multiple sensors and reducing instrument size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple sensing functions into a single sensor located at the distal end of the housing. This consolidation reduces the total number of sensors required and minimizes the space needed for sensor accommodation, thereby reducing overall instrument size.
3Device complexity
If the control lever is fixed to the instrument with predefined positions, then the structure is simple, but the adjustability of finger control positions for the surgeon is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static control lever with fixed predefined positions into a dynamic system where the control lever can be positioned continuously along its longitudinal axis. The single sensor at the distal end detects the magnet's position anywhere along this axis, enabling continuous speed adjustment rather than discrete predefined positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from discrete angular positions to continuous linear position along the longitudinal axis. The single sensor detects the magnet's position at any point along this axis, providing continuous speed control and allowing the surgeon to adjust finger control positions for optimal ergonomics.
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 precise control of surgical instrument speed and ergonomic flexibility, reducing the need for large instrument sizes and enhancing user access to the surgical site.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator has a magnetic field parallel to a length of the lever. The method also includes sensing a magnetic field of the actuator with the sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A powered surgical handpiece including a housing, a printed circuit board, a sensor, and an actuator assembly. The housing has a longitudinal axis extending from a first end to a second end of the housing. The printed circuit board has a first face and a second opposing face. The first and second faces extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The sensor is coupled to the first face of the printed circuit board. The sensor is centered along the longitudinal axis of the housing. The actuator assembly includes a lever and an actuator. The lever is pivotally coupled to the housing. The lever maintains a magnet slidably positionable along the lever. The magnet is positionable to be proximal to the sensors.