Surgical Tool Bearing Assembly for Replaceable Pivot Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pivot bearings in medical instrument systems, such as surgical milling or drilling tools, are prone to wear, corrosion, and overloading due to frequent use, leading to damage and necessitating costly repairs or replacements, which disrupts the functionality of the housing or handpiece.
Innovation Solution
The system features a detachable first pivot bearing connected to the tool shaft, forming a unit that can be easily replaced, while a second pivot bearing remains fixed in the housing, allowing independent maintenance and reducing downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pivot bearings are firmly integrated in the housing, then the tool is stably supported, but the housing cannot be used when pivot bearings are defective
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot bearing assembly is segmented into a removable portion (including the first pivot bearing and associated components) that can be detached from the housing. This allows the housing to be separated from the worn pivot bearing, enabling the housing to be reused while replacing only the bearing assembly, thus resolving the contradiction between stable support and housing availability.
2Device complexity
If pivot bearings are firmly integrated in the housing, then the tool structure is simplified, but repair and replacement become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot bearing system is divided into a removable bearing assembly and a stationary housing. The bearing assembly can be easily detached and replaced as a unit, simplifying the repair process while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. This segmentation enables quick maintenance without complex disassembly procedures.
3Force
If pivot bearings are subjected to great stress, then the tool can handle heavy loads, but the bearings wear out faster
Solution Approach 1:
The first pivot bearing is designed as a consumable component that can be easily replaced when worn. The bearing assembly is discarded (removed) from the housing and replaced with a new one, while the housing and other components are recovered and reused. This approach allows the system to handle heavy loads while managing bearing wear through systematic replacement.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical instrument system includes a handpiece and a surgical tool. The handpiece has a housing in which a drive and/or a gearing mechanism is accommodated and which preferably has a housing part which is or can be attached to the housing. The surgical tool is supported on the housing and/or the housing part by a plurality of rotary bearings. The surgical tool is or can be coupled to the drive and/or gearing mechanism for conjoint rotation and in an axially fixed manner so as to transmit a torque from the drive and/or gearing mechanism to the tool. A first of the rotary bearings at a distal end portion of the tool is connected to the tool to form a unit. A second of the rotary bearings is accommodated in the housing or the housing part, proximally to the first rotary bearing, so as to be stationary.