Surgical Instrument Deflection Wire Path Length Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing articulated surgical instruments lack precise control and ease of assembly due to the direct attachment of deflection wires to actuators, limiting the flexibility and efficiency of tip deflection.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument design where the deflection wire is attached to the housing, allowing the actuator to change the path length within the housing, thereby controlling the deflection of the shaft tip, with options for integral or separate actuator and handle configurations, and various mechanisms to alter the path length, such as pivoting channels or spindles, enabling precise deflection control and easier assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the deflection wire is directly attached to the actuator, then the structure is simpler, but the control precision and ease of assembly are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the actuator positioned between the handle and deflection wire) that mediates the transmission of force. The actuator converts linear handle movement into controlled deflection wire tension changes, providing precise control while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. This intermediary element resolves the contradiction by enabling precise control without requiring complex direct attachment mechanisms.
2Ease of manufacture
If the deflection wire is directly attached to the actuator, then the assembly process is more difficult, but the structure is more integrated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the surgical instrument into distinct functional modules: the handle, the actuator, the deflection wire, and the shaft with deflectable portion. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and tested independently, with the deflection wire being attachable to the actuator in a separate assembly step. The modular design significantly improves ease of assembly and manufacturing while maintaining structural integration through defined interface points.
3Ease of operation
If the actuator is movably coupled to the handle, then the control flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamically coupled actuator that can move relative to the handle along a guided path. This dynamic coupling allows the actuator to change its position and orientation in response to handle movement, providing flexible control of the deflection wire tension. The dynamic mechanism enables the system to adapt to different operational requirements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through guided motion constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes a housing, and a shaft including a proximal end, a deflectable portion and a distal tip. A handle is movable between first and second positions on the housing, and an actuator is movably coupled to the handle, such that movement of the handle between its first and second positions causes a corresponding movement of the actuator between first and second positions in the housing. A deflection wire includes proximal and distal portions, the distal portion being fixed to the shaft, and the proximal portion being affixed to the housing so as to provide a path length for the deflection wire within the housing. The movement of the handle causes the actuator to move to its second position, the second position of the actuator causing an increase in the path length for the deflection wire so as cause a deflection of the distal tip of the shaft.