Surgical Tool Holder Quick Connect Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical instrument holders are difficult to clean and sterilize due to small spaces between components, and existing designs are not suitable for minimally invasive surgery or interfacing with insert-molded plastic bases of reamers, limiting their effectiveness in preventing disease transmission and adaptability.
Innovation Solution
A surgical tool system with a quick connect mechanism featuring a center rod, tool interface, and interface receiver that allows for easy disassembly and cleaning without separating components, adapted for use with insert-molded plastic bases and suitable for minimally invasive surgery, using a transversely extending portion and a single elongated slot for secure tool engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical instrument holders are designed with tight-fitting components to ensure secure tool engagement, then reliability of tool holding is improved, but cleaning and sterilization effectiveness deteriorates due to inaccessible small spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is divided into separable components (body, tool interface, locking mechanism) that can be detached from each other. This segmentation allows each component to be cleaned independently, accessing previously unreachable areas while maintaining secure tool engagement when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder employs a dynamic locking mechanism with movable elements (spring-loaded locking arms, sliding interfaces) that can transition between locked and unlocked states. This dynamic design allows the components to separate for cleaning and reassemble for secure operation, resolving the contradiction between tight fitting and cleaning accessibility.
2Reliability
If the holder interface is designed to be large to ensure secure engagement, then tool holding reliability is improved, but the holder size increases making it unsuitable for minimally invasive surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The holder employs localized engagement features (precision-machined locking surfaces, targeted locking points) at critical interfaces rather than requiring a large overall interface area. This concentrates the engagement security function in small, precise locations, maintaining reliability while minimizing holder size for minimally invasive applications.
3Device complexity
If the holder is designed as a single integrated component to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to disassemble for cleaning is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed with clearly defined separable components connected through standardized interfaces. This segmentation enables easy disassembly for cleaning while keeping each component relatively simple in structure, and the modular design actually reduces overall complexity compared to a monolithic design requiring internal cleaning channels.
4Reliability
If the locking mechanism uses multiple small components to achieve secure locking, then locking reliability is improved, but cleaning accessibility deteriorates due to increased component density
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into separable components (locking arms, springs, interface elements) that can be detached as a group or individually. This allows the locking function to be maintained through multiple components while enabling complete disassembly for thorough cleaning, preventing soil accumulation in the locking interface areas.
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
Enables quick and thorough cleaning and sterilization of surgical instruments, indicating locked or unlocked status, and provides a compact design suitable for minimally invasive procedures by allowing partial disassembly without losing parts, enhancing safety and adaptability.
Implementation Method 1
pushed against the head by a helical spring
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A
AI summary
A surgical tool holder 12 and tool system 10 is provided. The surgical tool holder (12) is adapted to connect to a tool support (14) having an interface receiver (36). The tool support provides a mount for a surgical tool head. The tool holder (12) includes a center rod (20), a tool interface (28) and a quick connect mechanism (50). The center rod (20) has a first shank end (24) and a second tool end (26). The tool interface (28) is disposed on the tool end (26) of the center rod (20). The tool interface (28) has at least one transversely extending portion (44, 44a), extending radially outward, beyond the diameter of the center rod (20) at the tool end (26). The interface (28) is adapted to engage with the interface receiver (36). The quick connect mechanism (50) is disposed on the center rod (20) to move in a rotationally-constrained manner thereon proximate the tool interface (28). The mechanism (50) includes protrusions (66) biased to bear against and engage the tool support (14) when the tool support is engaged with the tool interface (28). This securely holds the tool support (14) and prevents its relative rotation with respect to the tool holder (12).