Surgical Instrument Shroud Alignment for Robust Yet Easy Disassembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments face challenges in maintaining structural integrity during use while allowing easy disassembly and processing of internal components for disposal, reuse, or remanufacturing, particularly in sterile environments.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument design featuring a proximal body with a first and second shroud that couple together using aligned coupling sleeves and latching assemblies, providing structural robustness during use and enabling easy separation for component harvesting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the surgical instrument uses a robust coupled structure during use, then structural integrity is improved, but disassembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument is divided into distinct modular components including a proximal body, distal body, and end effector that can be independently separated. The coupling interfaces between these segments feature alignment sleeves and latching assemblies that maintain structural integrity during use but allow intentional disassembly when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism transitions from a static locked state during surgical use to a dynamic disassemblable state when processing is required. The latching assemblies can be deliberately actuated to release the coupled components, enabling the structure to adapt between requiring strength and requiring ease of separation based on operational phase.
2Ease of operation
If the surgical instrument allows easy disassembly for component processing, then ease of operation is improved, but structural integrity during use deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment sleeves and latching assemblies are pre-configured in the coupling interfaces to guide components into proper alignment and automatically lock when coupled. This preliminary structuring ensures that when components are joined, they achieve maximum structural integrity without requiring complex fastening procedures during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment sleeves act as intermediary elements between the proximal and distal bodies, providing both alignment guidance during coupling and a structured interface for the latching assemblies. This intermediary structure enables both strong coupling during use and controlled disassembly when needed.
3Manufacturing precision
If alignment features are added to coupling interfaces, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment sleeve and latching assembly functions are merged into a single integrated coupling interface structure. The alignment sleeve provides both mechanical alignment guidance and serves as the housing for the latching mechanism, eliminating the need for separate alignment features and reducing overall interface complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling interface is designed with universal alignment features that serve multiple functions: guiding component assembly, maintaining structural alignment during use, and providing reference points for the latching mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized features.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument including an end effector that may transition between a deactivated and activated configured to transmit energy to tissue, and a proximal body attached to the end effector. The proximal body includes an electrical component that may assist the end effector, a first shroud, and a second shroud capable of coupling with the first shroud to cooperatively define a hollow interior that houses the electrical component. The proximal body further includes a first restraining feature and a second restraining feature associated with the first shroud and the second shroud, respectively. The first and second restraining features may couple together to cooperatively align the first shroud and the second shroud. The first and second restraining feature may selectively disengage to allow the first shroud and the second shroud to decouple form each other and expose the electrical component within the hollow interior.