Surgical Tool Shank With Integrated Bearing for Easy Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical tools with integrated rotary bearings face issues of wear, corrosion, and contamination due to repeated use, leading to frequent repairs or replacements, which disrupt the functionality of the housing and incur time and expense.
Innovation Solution
A surgical tool design where the rotary bearing is integrally formed with the tool shank, allowing for easy replacement or integration with the housing, and features a detachable or snap-fit connection to ensure the tool and bearing function as a single unit, reducing the need for separate housing maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rotary bearings are fixedly integrated into the housing, then the tool can be supported reliably during operation, but the housing must be replaced when bearings fail, resulting in downtime and increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing is segmented from the housing structure and integrated with the tool shank instead. This allows the bearing to move with the tool as a single unit, separating the bearing maintenance cycle from the housing service life. When the bearing wears out, only the tool needs replacement, not the entire housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool with integrated bearing is designed as a disposable component that can be easily replaced. When the bearing fails, the entire tool is discarded and replaced with a new one, while the expensive housing remains intact and reusable. This transfers the wear and tear to the cheaper tool rather than the expensive housing.
2Reliability
If rotary bearings are fixedly integrated into the housing, then rotational support is stable, but replacement of failed bearings requires housing replacement or complex repair
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the bearing from the housing and attaching it to the tool, the system allows for quick tool replacement without housing intervention. The bearing maintains stable rotational support during operation, and when it fails, the tool can be rapidly swapped out, minimizing downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing is pre-integrated with the tool during manufacturing, so that when failure occurs, the entire assembly is ready for immediate replacement as a single unit. This eliminates the time-consuming process of disassembling the housing to access and replace individual bearings.
3Productivity
If rotary bearings are subjected to significant stresses from repeated use, then the tool can be used repeatedly, but the bearings become defective requiring repair or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The tool with integrated bearing is designed as a disposable component that absorbs the stresses of repeated use. When the bearing becomes defective after repeated use, the entire tool is replaced rather than repaired, while the housing remains intact for continued use.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing is extracted from the housing structure and transferred to the tool. This allows the bearing to experience the stresses of repeated use while integrated with the tool, isolating the wear and damage from the housing system.
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
This design enhances the availability and reliability of surgical tools by enabling independent replacement of rotary bearings, reducing failure rates and maintenance costs, ensuring continuous tool functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The tools are typically interchangeably connected to the housing, allowing the housing to be reused and fitted with different or varied tools. The housing incorporates a fixed rotary bearing to support the tool.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3A~4
AI summary
Provided is a surgical instrument (1), in particular a surgical milling or drilling instrument, comprising an instrument shank (2) having an effector (4) at its distal end portion and a coupling structure (6) at its proximal end portion, the coupling structure being designed to be selectively coupled, axially fixedly and for conjoint rotation, to a drive received in a housing, preferably a handpiece, in order to thereby transmit a rotation of the drive to the instrument shank (2), for which purpose at least one rotary bearing (8) for rotatably supporting the instrument shank (2) on the housing, preferably handpiece, is located between the instrument shank (2) and the housing, preferably handpiece. The rotary bearing (8) and the instrument shank (2) are combined in a unit which, for coupling to the drive can be introduced into the housing, and for uncoupling from the drive can be withdrawn from the housing, as a single unit.