Trocar Retaining Assembly with Slidable Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling instruments lack a reliable mechanism for selectively retaining and releasing trocar assemblies, which is essential for different surgical procedures and for sanitization purposes, especially when reusing the trocar assembly.
Innovation Solution
A trocar retaining assembly is designed with a housing and linkage mechanism that allows for the selective retention and release of the trocar assembly, utilizing a combination of arms and biasing members to secure or release the trocar assembly within the elongated body portion of the surgical stapling instrument, enabling easy removal for cleaning or reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the trocar assembly is permanently fixed within the elongated body portion, then the instrument structure is simplified and more reliable, but the trocar assembly cannot be removed for sanitization or replaced for different surgical procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The retention mechanism transitions from a static fixed state to a dynamic releasable state. The arms are biased against the trocar assembly by springs to provide automatic retention, but can be moved laterally to disengage from the trocar assembly, allowing it to slide freely. This dynamic switching between retained and removable states resolves the contradiction between secure fixation and ease of removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The arms act as intermediary elements between the housing assembly and the trocar assembly. These arms provide the retention function without requiring permanent fixation, enabling the trocar assembly to be securely held during use yet easily removed when needed. The intermediary arms resolve the contradiction by providing a mechanical mediation between the conflicting requirements of fixed retention and removable flexibility.
2Reliability
If the trocar assembly is securely retained during the surgical procedure, then operational reliability is improved, but the ability to remove the trocar assembly for cleaning and reuse is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism dynamically adjusts its retention characteristics based on operational phase. During the surgical procedure, the biased arms automatically engage and securely retain the trocar assembly, ensuring reliability. When the procedure is complete, the arms can be easily moved laterally to disengage, allowing simple removal for sanitization. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between secure retention and ease of removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism is self-activating through spring biasing. The arms automatically engage the trocar assembly upon insertion and maintain secure retention without requiring additional actions. For removal, the operator simply needs to apply minimal lateral force to disengage the arms, and the spring automatically resets them for the next use. This self-service characteristic resolves the contradiction by providing automatic secure retention while enabling easy manual removal.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a retention mechanism is added to allow selective removal of the trocar assembly, then adaptability for different procedures and sanitization is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The arms serve multiple functions: they provide retention force through spring biasing, guide the trocar assembly during insertion, and can be laterally moved to enable removal. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving the desired adaptability for selective retention and removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism merges the retention function with the structural housing assembly. The arms are integrated into the housing rather than being separate detachable components, and the spring biasing is incorporated within the housing structure. This merging approach provides the selective retention capability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by combining multiple functions into unified components.
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 mechanism ensures secure retention during procedures and allows for easy removal and cleaning of the trocar assembly, facilitating its reuse while maintaining instrument functionality and hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member disposed at least partially within the housing assembly and in contact with the arm, the biasing member urging the arm toward its first position
Data Source
AI summary
A trocar retaining assembly is configured to releasably retain a trocar assembly and includes a housing assembly and a linkage assembly. A first arm is engaged with a first lateral linkage of the linkage assembly, and a portion of the first arm is slidable between a first position and a second position within a first lateral aperture of the housing assembly. A second arm is engaged with a second lateral aperture of the linkage assembly, and a portion of the second arm is slidable between a first position and a second position within a second lateral aperture of the housing assembly. The trocar assembly is hindered from translating longitudinally relative to the housing assembly when the first arm is in its first position, and the trocar assembly is longitudinally translatable when the first arm is in its second position.