Surgical Tool Attachment Tab Mechanism for Orientation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ophthalmic surgeries face challenges in maintaining precise positioning of micro-surgical tools due to movable components that are not adequately immobilized, leading to inadvertent changes in tool orientation and potential surgical errors.
Innovation Solution
A surgical tool attachment system that includes a body with a cavity and a slot to receive the surgical tool, featuring a tab that interferes with movable components to secure them in a specific orientation, preventing rotation and minimizing inadvertent movements during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If movable components of surgical tools are not immobilized, then ease of operation is improved, but positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device enables dynamic control of the movable component, allowing it to be free-moving during adjustment phases and locked in place during surgical operations. The slot and tab mechanism provides conditional immobilization based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment device acts as an intermediary between the movable component and the surgical tool, providing a locking mechanism that secures the component in desired positions without interfering with its adjustability when needed.
2Measurement precision
If a locking mechanism is added to immobilize movable components, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device is segmented into distinct functional elements: a body portion, a slot, and a tab. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while maintaining overall simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is extracted as a separate attachment device rather than being integrated into the surgical tool itself. This extraction simplifies the surgical tool while providing the needed immobilization capability through the attachment.
3Reliability
If the attachment secures the movable component, then reliability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment provides dynamic adaptability by allowing the movable component to be unlocked for repositioning and locked for stable operation. The slot geometry enables multiple potential positioning locations while maintaining secure fixation when locked.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment enables periodic transitions between locked and unlocked states, allowing the surgeon to adjust the movable component when needed and secure it during critical surgical phases, creating a rhythmic pattern of adjustment and stabilization.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for selectively constraining an orientation of a portion of a surgical tool system relative to another. Example surgical tool systems may include a surgical tool having at least one movable component (208), at least one actuation component (214) and a surgical tool attachment (300a). The surgical tool attachment may be operable selectively to engage and disengage the moveable component so as to to prevent movement of the movable component relative to the surgical tool in an engaged configuration and to permit movement of the movable component relative to the surgical to in a disengaged configuration, respectively. In the engaged configuration, a dynamic component of the surgical tool system may be fixed relative to the surgical tool, and, in a disengaged configuration, the dynamic component may be freely movable relative to the surgical tool.