Surgical Instrument Guide Device Cam Slot Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surgical instruments for knee joint replacement surgery are difficult to clean and disassemble, particularly in areas that are hard to reach, which complicates the sterilization process and handling during procedures.

Innovation Solution

A surgical instrument with a first fastening device and a guide device that allows for releasable coupling, featuring a link guide with a link slot and link element for precise alignment and easy disassembly, enabling manual disassembly and assembly without tools, and a fixing device for secure alignment during use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the guide mechanism remains attached to other components during cleaning, then cleaning is difficult or impossible in hard-to-reach areas, but disassembly requires separate assembly tools which complicates the process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cleaningVSAvoiddisassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical instrument's guide mechanism is designed with self-aligning features that enable users to disassemble and reassemble components using only the instrument itself, without requiring separate assembly tools. The guide track and guide element configurations allow the components to self-align during attachment, making the disassembly process as easy as the assembly process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If the guide mechanism is permanently attached, then assembly is simple, but cleaning and sterilization are difficult in hard-to-reach areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidcleaning accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical instrument is divided into separable components, specifically the guide mechanism can be detached from other components. This segmentation allows the guide mechanism to be removed for thorough cleaning and sterilization of hard-to-reach areas, while still maintaining a relatively simple overall assembly structure through features like the cam guide and plug connection system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the guide mechanism is made detachable for easy cleaning, then cleaning accessibility improves, but alignment precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning accessibilityVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide track and guide element are designed with self-aligning geometric features that automatically ensure precise alignment when components are attached. The cam guide with its specific geometry and the plug connection design allow the components to find their correct relative positions without requiring complex alignment procedures or additional tools, thus maintaining manufacturing precision while enabling easy detachability for cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Facilitates precise alignment and easy cleaning and disassembly of the surgical instrument, improving handling and ensuring accurate resection incisions during knee joint replacement surgery.

Implementation Method 1

at least one cam element which is slidably received in the cam slot along the guide track

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

The first fastening device has at least one cam orthogonal to the guide track has an extended plug-in receptacle through which the at least one cam element is inserted into the at least one cam slot, forming a detachable plug connection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Fastener: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP4311505A1Surgical instrument
Publication Date: 2024.01.31 AESCULAP AG
  • EP4311505A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4311505A1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP4311505A1 patent drawingFigure 7~10

AI summary

Surgical instrument (1, 1') for use in knee replacement surgery, comprising a first fastening device (100, 100'), a guide device (300, 300') which is detachably coupled to the first fastening device (100, 100') and which is configured for detachable coupling to a second fastening device (200), wherein the guide device (300, 300') has a cam guide (301, 301') with at least one cam slot (302, 302') extending longitudinally along a guide track (C) and at least one cam element (303) which is slidably received in the cam slot (302, 302') along the guide track (C), and wherein the first fastening device (100, 100') has at least one plug-in receptacle (101, 101') through which the at least one cam element (303) forming a detachable plug connection (400, 400`) with the first fastening device (100,100`) into which at least one scenery slot (302, 302`) is inserted.,