Surgical Probe Integral Blade Unit Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical probes with retractable blades for procedures like carpal tunnel surgery face issues with complex and expensive actuation transmission mechanisms, which can fail and complicate assembly and cleaning, and may block or malfunction, prolonging surgery and causing trauma.
Innovation Solution
A surgical probe with an integral blade unit and actuation transmission mechanism, comprising a thrust transmission section and a flex section, where the thrust transmission section is mechanically guided to prevent lateral displacement and has higher mechanical stiffness than the flex section, allowing for reliable and efficient blade operation without the need for delicate assembly or risk of malfunction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a complex actuation transmission mechanism with multiple pivoting connection elements is used to displace the blade, then the blade can be actuated between retracted and operative positions, but the mechanism becomes expensive to assemble, difficult to clean, and prone to blocking or malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation transmission mechanism is integrated with the blade to form a single integral blade unit, eliminating the need for separate pivoting connection elements. This merging of components simplifies the overall mechanism, reduces assembly complexity, and eliminates potential failure points while maintaining the blade's ability to transition between retracted and operative positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The integral blade unit is designed as a disposable component that can be easily replaced. This approach eliminates the need for complex assembly and cleaning of delicate mechanical parts, as the entire unit is discarded and replaced rather than maintained, thereby reducing long-term operational complexity and improving reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple tiny pivoting connection elements are used in the actuation transmission mechanism, then the blade can be precisely controlled, but the assembly becomes expensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation transmission mechanism and blade are combined into a single integral component manufactured as one piece. This eliminates the need for multiple separate pivoting connection elements and their associated assembly steps, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and assembly time while maintaining precise blade positioning through the integrated design.
3Reliability
If the actuation transmission mechanism contains many small moving parts, then the blade can be actuated reliably, but the mechanism is difficult to clean and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The integral blade unit is designed as a disposable component that eliminates the need for cleaning and maintenance of complex mechanical parts. Rather than attempting to clean and maintain numerous small pivoting connection elements, the entire unit is replaced after use, ensuring reliability without the burden of maintenance while reducing long-term costs.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the probe shaft cross-sectional size is reduced to access narrow body lumens, then surgical access is improved, but the space for actuation transmission mechanism is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation transmission mechanism and blade are merged into a single integral component that can be designed to fit within the constrained cross-sectional space of narrow body lumens. This integration eliminates the need for separate mechanical components that would require additional space, allowing the probe to maintain a small profile while still achieving reliable blade actuation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical probe (1) comprising a housing (10) extending along a longitudinal extent from a proximal end to a distal end. A longitudinal cavity (14) is provided inside the housing, said cavity being open at a proximal front face and being closed at a distal front face. The housing comprises an aperture (11) provided in a distal region of the housing and through which the longitudinal cavity is in communication with the exterior of the housing at a circumferential position of the housing. A blade (31) comprising a cutting edge (311) and an actuation transmission mechanism (32) is provided inside the cavity, wherein the blade (31) is disposed distal of the actuation transmission mechanism (32). The blade is displaceable in the cavity between a retracted position in which the blade is entirely comprised inside the housing and an operative position in which the cutting edge of the blade is provided at least partially outside the housing. The transmission mechanism is operatively connected to the blade such that the transmission mechanism causes said displacement of the blade, wherein the blade (31) and the transmission mechanism (32) are integrally provided with each other to form an integral blade unit.