Surgical Instrument Marking with Angled Ridges and Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional debossed or embossed symbols on surgical instruments are difficult to read due to their similar color and shade with the surrounding surface, making it challenging for surgeons to identify important information during procedures.
Innovation Solution
The use of ridges and grooves with angled surfaces that create a combination of specular reflection and shadow effects, enhancing contrast relative to the surrounding surface regardless of viewing angle, without altering the symbol's appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a debossed or embossed symbol is formed on a surgical instrument using the same material as the surrounding surface, then biocompatibility is maintained, but the contrast between the symbol and surrounding surface is reduced, making it difficult to read
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating ridges and grooves with different surface properties (different angles, depths, and orientations) within the symbol area compared to the surrounding surface. This allows the symbol to maintain the same material composition for biocompatibility while having locally differentiated physical features that enhance visual contrast through light reflection and shadowing effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional flat symbol to a three-dimensional structure with ridges and grooves of varying depths and angles. This dimensional change creates shadowing effects and differential light reflection that enhance contrast without altering the material composition, thereby maintaining biocompatibility while improving visibility.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional debossed or embossed symbols are used, then manufacturing is simple, but the symbol contrast with surrounding surface is insufficient for clear identification during surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes physical parameters such as surface angle, ridge depth, groove depth, and surface orientation to enhance contrast. These parameter modifications can be integrated into existing manufacturing processes like injection molding or stamping, allowing complex three-dimensional surface features to be created without fundamentally changing the manufacturing approach.
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 improved visibility of symbols by maximizing contrast through differential light reflection and shadowing, ensuring clear identification of critical information during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The ridges and grooves create an improved contrast for the symbol relative to the surrounding surface by a combination of different specular reflection of incident light compared to the surrounding surface
Implementation Method 2
The ridges and grooves create an improved contrast for the symbol relative to the surrounding surface by a combination of different specular reflection of incident light compared to the surrounding surface and shadows formed by the ridges and grooves
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
A surgical instrument comprising a symbol formed in or on a smooth surface surrounding the symbol, wherein the symbol comprises a plurality of angled surfaces over at least part of the area of the symbol, wherein the angled surfaces define a plurality of parallel ridges and grooves in the symbol. These ridges and grooves create an improved contrast for the symbol relative to the surrounding surface by a combination of different specular reflection of incident light compared to the surrounding surface and shadows formed by the ridges and grooves. A method of marking a surgical instrument with a symbol formed in or on a smooth surface is also described. The method comprises forming a symbol in or on a smooth surface of the surgical instrument; and forming a plurality of angled surfaces over at least part of the area of the symbol, wherein the angled surfaces define a plurality of parallel ridges and grooves in the symbol.