Surgical Instrument Locking Mechanism for Lateral Play
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments for minimally invasive surgery lack a reliable mechanical locking mechanism that can securely hold the instrument in an actuated position without requiring excessive force or risking unintended release due to lateral play and deformation.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument design featuring a locking element on a pivoting lever of a transmission member, which engages or disengages with a counterpart on another transmission member, coupled with an intermediate member to decouple lateral movement and a slot for lateral support, ensuring reliable locking and easy release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical locking device is implemented to hold the surgical instrument in an actuated position, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is integrated into a pivoting lever that dynamically transitions between locked and unlocked positions based on the transmission member's movement. The lever pivots about an axis to allow the locking element to engage or disengage from the counterpart, providing adaptive locking rather than a static mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device is merged with the transmission member by integrating the locking element directly onto the pivoting lever of the transmission member. This combination eliminates the need for separate locking mechanisms and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the locking element is arranged on the handle, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to lateral play and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting lever acts as an intermediary between the handle and the locking element. By placing the locking element on the lever rather than directly on the handle, the mechanism isolates the locking function from lateral play and deformation in the handle, while still allowing easy operation through the lever's pivoting motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the handle for user input, the pivoting lever for transmission and locking control, and the locking element for securing the actuated position. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the locking element positioned where it can operate reliably independent of handle deformation.
3Reliability
If a slot for lateral support is introduced to minimize lateral forces, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slot for lateral support is merged into the base body structure rather than being a separate component. This integration provides lateral support to the transmission member while avoiding the need for additional parts, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
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
The solution provides a secure locking mechanism that effectively maintains the instrument in an actuated position while minimizing the impact of lateral forces, enhancing reliability and ease of operation.
Implementation Method 1
The pivoting lever is acted upon by a locking spring, in particular a leaf spring
Implementation Method 2
A return spring, which is supported axially on the hollow shaft and presses against the core, pivots the handles apart via the levers and moves the surgical instrument into an initial position
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a surgical instrument (1) with two handles (10) that can be pivoted against a base body (2) to actuate the instrument (1). Movement of the handles (10) is transmitted via intermediate elements (16) and pivot levers (13) to a core (4) that is slidable in a hollow shaft (3). The invention proposes to arrange a releasable, mechanical locking device (18) on the transmission elements (13), which are received in a slot (12) in the base body (2). The slot (12) holds the two transmission elements (13) in contact with each other, thereby ensuring the function of the locking device (18). The intermediate elements (16) decouple the transmission elements (13) from any lateral movement of the handles (10).