Manual End Effector Thumb Wheel With Fluid-Sealed Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic surgical instruments require effective seal configurations to prevent fluid contamination of capital equipment and facilitate cleaning and sterilization, yet existing solutions are inadequate in ensuring reliable fluid containment and ease of manual actuation.
Innovation Solution
A robotic surgical instrument with a housing and shaft extending from it, featuring an end effector assembly and a spring compression assembly. The assembly includes a proximal hub, a distal hub, and a compression spring, along with a drive gear and a thumb wheel for manual actuation. This configuration allows for effective fluid containment and easy manual operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a robotic surgical instrument is designed with sealed components to prevent fluid contamination, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic surgical instrument is divided into distinct sealed modules including a sealed housing, sealed shaft, and sealed end effector assembly. Each module has its own sealing mechanisms, allowing independent sealing validation and replacement without affecting the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
Seal layers are introduced as intermediary components between different functional modules (housing-shaft interface, shaft-end effector interface). These seal layers act as barriers that prevent fluid passage while maintaining the mechanical connection and relative movement capability between modules.
2Loss of substance
If the end effector assembly is made reusable requiring cleaning and sterilization, then loss of substance decreases, but ease of operation worsens due to manual actuation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector assembly incorporates self-contained manual actuation mechanisms including a thumb wheel and spring compression assembly that allow the operator to directly control jaw movement without requiring complex robotic system intervention. This enables quick manual operation during surgical procedures and facilitates independent cleaning and sterilization of the reusable portion.
3Ease of operation
If a thumb wheel mechanism is added for manual actuation, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thumb wheel actuation mechanism is merged with the existing spring compression assembly and drive rod mechanism. The thumb wheel directly compresses the spring which in turn actuates the drive rod, combining multiple functions into a single integrated manual actuation system rather than adding separate independent mechanisms.
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
The proposed solution effectively inhibits the passage of fluids proximally, protecting the robotic arm and facilitating cleaning and sterilization, while also enabling manual actuation of the end effector assembly for various surgical tasks.
Implementation Method 1
A spring compression assembly is supported within the housing, the spring compression assembly including: a proximal hub configured to secure a proximal end of the drive rod disposed therethrough
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A robotic surgical instrument includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom. A spring compression assembly is supported within the housing and includes: a proximal hub configured to secure a drive rod disposed therethrough, the proximal hub including teeth; a distal hub spaced from the proximal hub and including teeth; and a compression spring mounted between the proximal and distal hubs. A drive gear includes a proximal portion extending therefrom having threads disposed thereabout configured to engage the teeth of the proximal and distal hubs such that rotation thereof translates the hubs relative to one another and actuates the end effector assembly. A thumb wheel is included that has a portion exposed outside the housing for external manipulation thereof. The thumb wheel is selectively positionable between a disengaged position spaced relative to the drive gear and an engaged position to matingly engage the drive gear.