Reusable Surgical Instrument With Disposable Tip And Quick Connect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusable surgical instruments, such as monopolar-curved scissors, suffer from reduced cutting performance over time due to current density dulling the blade, leading to a need for frequent replacement and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a disposable surgical instrument tip assembly that includes a disposable blade set and a locking tip cover, which can be quickly connected and disconnected from a reusable instrument portion using quick connect/disconnect elements, allowing for extended use of the reusable instrument while maintaining sharpness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If reusable surgical instruments are used, then cost per procedure decreases, but cutting performance degrades over time due to blade dulling
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument is divided into reusable and disposable portions. The disposable portion includes the blade assembly that degrades during use, while the reusable portion contains the expensive mechanical components. This segmentation allows the blade to be replaced without replacing the entire instrument, maintaining cutting performance while controlling costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable blade assembly that is intentionally designed to be used once or limited times and then discarded. This disposable component contains the blade that would otherwise dull and degrade performance in reusable instruments, ensuring consistent cutting performance across multiple procedures while the expensive reusable mechanism can be reused many times.
2Reliability
If disposable tip assemblies are used, then cutting performance is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is segmented into modular components: a reusable main body and a disposable tip assembly. The tip assembly itself is segmented into the blade, actuator rod, and tip cover. This modular segmentation simplifies the design of each individual component while maintaining overall system functionality, as each portion can be optimized independently for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable main body of the instrument is designed to be universal and can accept different disposable tip assemblies. The standardized interface and connection mechanism allow the same reusable mechanism to work with various blade types and configurations, reducing the need for multiple specialized reusable instruments and thereby reducing overall system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If quick connect/disconnect elements are used, then ease of operation increases, but reliability of connection may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The quick connect mechanism incorporates pre-positioned alignment features and guide surfaces that ensure proper orientation and engagement before the actual connection is made. The actuator rod and tip cover are pre-assembled in specific orientations that facilitate reliable connection, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures while maintaining connection integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The quick connect/disconnect mechanism is designed to be self-aligning and self-locking. The complementary shapes of the connecting elements automatically guide proper engagement, and the connection maintains its own integrity without requiring additional fastening steps or complex locking mechanisms, thereby ensuring reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes a reusable instrument portion and a disposable tip assembly. The disposable tip assembly includes an end effector assembly that in turn includes an end effector. The disposable tip assembly also includes a locking tip cover that locks the disposable tip assembly to a lock interface element of a tip interface of the reusable instrument portion. To facilitate mounting the disposable tip assembly on the tip interface of the reusable instrument portion, the disposable tip assembly includes a first quick connect/disconnect element and the tip interface includes a second quick connect/disconnect element. The second quick connect/disconnect element is coupled to a tendon. The tendon is also coupled to an actuator assembly that provides forces that push and pull (push/pull) the tendon.