Surgical Instrument Holder with Case-Actuated Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanized surgery equipment poses a risk of contamination due to direct contact between the practitioner's hands and instruments during assembly and disassembly, compromising asepsis and ergonomics, especially when handling small, similar instruments.
Innovation Solution
The equipment features a case that houses the active blade, allowing instruments to be mounted or dismounted without direct contact, using bistable receiving and retaining means actuated by the case, which eliminates the need for manual operation of push buttons, enhancing aseptic and ergonomic conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If direct contact between practitioner's hands and instruments is used during assembly and disassembly, then ease of operation is improved, but risk of contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the case with actuating means) that mediates between the practitioner's hand and the instrument holder. The case acts as a mediator that transmits the unlocking action without requiring direct contact between the practitioner's fingers and the instrument holder's locking mechanism, thus maintaining ease of operation while reducing contamination risk
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the case itself, which houses the instrument, becomes the actuating mechanism. The case's actuating means directly interacts with the instrument holder's locking mechanism, allowing the instrument packaging to serve dual purposes: protection and operational control, thereby eliminating the need for direct manual contact with sensitive components
2Reliability
If push button locking means are used in instrument holder, then instrument retention is improved, but ergonomic difficulty increases due to continuous pressure requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the continuous pressure requirement into periodic action. The case actuates the unlocking mechanism at specific moments (when assembly or disassembly is needed) rather than requiring continuous pressure. The bistable locking mechanism maintains retention without continuous input, and the case provides periodic actuation only when state change is needed
Solution Approach 2:
The case serves as an intermediary that eliminates the need for direct finger pressure on the push button. Instead of the practitioner's fingers directly compressing the locking mechanism, the case's actuating means performs this function, distributing the mechanical action and eliminating the ergonomic strain of maintaining continuous finger pressure
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple instruments are handled successively, then surgical procedure completeness is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the instrument remain in its case during the surgical procedure. The case is prepared in advance to house the instrument, and the actuating means is pre-configured to enable quick release. When instrument change is needed, the practitioner simply actuates the case's mechanism rather than manually manipulating the instrument itself, significantly reducing instrument change time
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3c
Figure 4~5b
AI summary
The invention relates to a piece of mechanized surgical equipment comprising an instrument holder (1) comprising means for receiving and retaining a surgical instrument (2) for mechanized use, and to a surgical instrument (2) for mechanized use, intended to be mounted on the instrument holder (1). According to the invention, the receiving and retaining means are mobile between an unlocking position, in which they enable the insertion of the instrument into the instrument holder or the withdrawal thereof, and a locking position, in which they prevent the withdrawal of the instrument from the instrument holder. Furthermore, the equipment comprises a case (5) in which the active blade of the instrument can be removably housed, the case having an engaging element for engaging with the receiving and retaining means so as to cause them to move from the unlocking position to the locking position, or vice versa.