Surgical Instrument Two-Step Activation Switch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical instruments face challenges in selectively initiating energy supply to tissue without accidental activation due to environmental conditions, particularly fluid ingress, which can trigger errant signals.

Innovation Solution

A two-step activation process is implemented using a first activation switch and a second activation switch, where the second switch is isolated from environmental influences, ensuring that only a specific signal threshold initiates energy supply to the energizable member, preventing accidental activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single activation switch is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability decreases due to accidental activation from environmental conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of accidental activationVSAvoidactivation mechanism structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The activation mechanism is divided into two separate switches: a first activation switch that detects environmental conditions and a second activation switch that actually initiates energy supply. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between accidental conditions and intentional activation, improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through functional separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first activation switch acts as an intermediary between the environmental conditions and the second activation switch. It detects conditions such as fluid ingress and prevents these conditions from directly triggering the energy supply, thereby protecting the system from accidental activation while allowing intentional activation to proceed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If physical sealing of switches is implemented, then the reliability improves by preventing fluid ingress, but the ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against fluid ingressVSAvoidswitch assembly process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical sealing approach with an electrical detection and control system. Instead of physically sealing switches to prevent fluid ingress, the first activation switch electronically detects environmental conditions and prevents errant signals from reaching the energy supply, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the second activation switch is isolated from environmental conditions, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of activation switchVSAvoidswitch isolation structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first activation switch serves as an intermediary that protects the second activation switch from environmental conditions. By placing the sensitive second switch in a protected location and using the first switch as a front-line detector, the system achieves reliable isolation without requiring complex physical barriers around the second switch.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The second activation switch is extracted from the environmentally exposed area and placed in a protected location within the housing. This spatial extraction isolates the critical switch from harmful environmental conditions while maintaining a manageable device structure through strategic component placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12127782B2Energy-activation mechanisms for surgical instruments

Publication Date: 2024.10.29 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

A surgical instrument includes a housing, energizable member, first activation switch, cable assembly, and second activation switch. The housing is operatively associated with the energizable member. The first activation switch is coupled to the energizable member and is selectively transitionable from an open condition to a closed condition. The cable assembly is coupled to the housing at a first end and includes a plug at a second, opposite end, the plug housing a second activation switch selectively transitionable from an open condition to a closed condition. The plug is adapted to connect to the source of electrosurgical energy, wherein transitioning of the first activation switch from the open condition to the closed condition transitions the second activation switch from the open condition to the closed condition such that the second activation switch communicates with the source of electrosurgical energy to initiate the supply of energy to the energizable member.