Tissue Resecting Instrument Drive Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tissue resection instruments face challenges in efficiently cutting and removing tissue during endoscopic procedures, particularly in maintaining a clear working space within the uterus, due to limitations in distension and debris management.
Innovation Solution
The end effector assembly of a tissue-resecting device incorporates a drive assembly with planetary gears, a locking clip, and a cam follower, enabling rotational and translational motion of the inner shaft within the outer shaft, along with a seal to manage suction and fluid flow, facilitating efficient tissue cutting and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a tissue resection instrument is used for endoscopic procedures, then tissue cutting and removal is enabled, but maintaining a clear working space becomes difficult due to debris accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful factor (debris) from the surgical site by incorporating a suction mechanism that actively removes tissue debris and fluid from the working space, preventing accumulation and maintaining visibility during the resection procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces fluid as an intermediary substance that facilitates the resection process by distending the uterus and carrying debris away, while the suction system manages this fluid to maintain a clear working environment
2Illumination intensity
If the uterus is distended with fluid to maintain visible working space, then visibility is improved, but fluid management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fluid delivery and suction removal functions into an integrated system, where the same instrument delivers distension fluid and simultaneously removes debris-laden fluid, simplifying the overall fluid management architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a tissue resection device and a fluid management system, eliminating the need for separate devices and reducing system complexity
3Ease of operation
If a complex drive assembly with planetary gears is used, then rotational and translational motion control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic motion where the inner shaft performs both rotation and translation simultaneously through the planetary gear mechanism, allowing the cutting edge to engage tissue effectively while being driven by a single rotational input, thus achieving complex motion without proportionally increasing control complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue-resecting end effector includes an outer shaft having a hub housing, an inner shaft including a sun gear, and a drive assembly disposed within the hub housing. The drive assembly includes a first and second drivers disposed about the inner shaft distally and proximally of the sun gear, respectively. The drive assembly further includes a plurality of planetary gears radially disposed about and in meshed engagement with the sun gear between the drivers, and a locking clip proximal of the planetary gears and the sun gear, rotationally keyed to the second driver, and engaged with the first driver via at least one snap-fit engagement. The locking clip retains the drivers and the planetary gears in operable engagement with one another and the sun gear such that a rotational input provided to the second driver drives rotation of the inner shaft.