Telescoping Nose Mechanism for Surgical Depth and Boundary Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments with telescoping nose mechanisms lack efficient control over the depth degree of freedom, which can lead to collisions with the surgical site boundaries during precise medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
The surgical instrument incorporates a telescoping nose mechanism with a nose tube, an intermediate unit featuring leadscrews, and a drive motor, allowing for precise linear translation of the nose tube along the depth axis, enabling the accessory to maintain a desired relationship with the surgical site boundary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a telescoping nose mechanism is used to enable depth degree of freedom, then the instrument can perform precise surgical tasks, but the risk of collision with surgical site boundaries increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a tracking system that continuously monitors the position and orientation of the surgical instrument relative to the surgical site boundary. This feedback is processed by a control system that determines when the instrument approaches the boundary and generates control signals to actuators, which adjust the instrument's position to prevent boundary breach, thereby resolving the contradiction between enabling depth freedom and preventing collision
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping nose mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of the instrument's depth position during surgery. The nose tube can extend and retract along the depth axis, allowing the instrument to adapt to varying surgical requirements while the control system dynamically adjusts positions to maintain safety margins from the boundary
2Ease of operation
If free hand operation is used without constraining mechanisms, then the surgical instrument offers greater maneuverability, but the precision in maintaining position relative to boundary decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical constraining mechanisms (such as guide arms or cutting jigs) with an electronic control system. The tracking system optically monitors instrument position, and actuators provide subtle positional corrections, maintaining maneuverability while achieving precision through electronic feedback rather than mechanical constraints
3Measurement precision
If a tracking device is attached to the hand-held portion, then the position and orientation can be monitored, but the complexity of the instrument increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system serves multiple functions: it processes tracking data, determines boundary proximity, generates control signals, and coordinates actuator movement. By consolidating these functions into a single integrated control system rather than separate dedicated components for each function, the system achieves high tracking accuracy without proportionally increasing overall instrument complexity
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 solution enhances the precision and safety of surgical procedures by preventing the accessory from breaching the defined boundary, ensuring accurate and controlled movement along the depth axis, thereby improving the effectiveness of surgical tasks such as bone shaping or removal.
Implementation Method 1
The intermediate unit includes a plurality of leadscrews and having a carriage extending from the nose tube to enable linear translation of the nose tube
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A surgical instrument comprises a hand-held portion configured to be manipulated by a user and a pivoting portion operatively coupled to the hand-held portion. The pivoting portion is configured to pivot with respect to the hand-held portion according to first and second degrees of freedom. The pivoting portion includes a telescoping nose mechanism including a nose tube, an intermediate unit having a carriage extending from the nose tube to enable linear translation of the nose tube, and a drive motor cooperating with the carriage to linearly translate the nose tube relative to the hand-held portion with respect to a third degree of freedom.