Trocar Seal Housing Release Mechanism for Fast Secure Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical access devices face challenges in quickly and easily attaching and removing the seal housing from the trocar assembly during minimally invasive procedures.

Innovation Solution

A surgical access device with a trocar assembly and a release mechanism that facilitates fast and efficient attachment and detachment of the seal housing assembly through a movable release member and biasing mechanism, allowing for secure coupling and decoupling via a cam surface and biasing member.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the seal housing is designed to be securely attached to the trocar assembly, then the reliability of the connection is improved, but the time required for attachment and detachment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidattachment and detachment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The release member is designed to be movable between a first position (locked state) and a second position (unlocked state), allowing the connection to dynamically transition between secure attachment and easy detachment. This dynamic mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing both reliability when attached and speed when detaching through a simple positional change of the release member.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connection system is segmented into distinct components: the seal housing, the trocar assembly, and the independent release member. This segmentation allows the release member to operate independently to control the connection state, enabling quick detachment without compromising the security of the attached state, thus resolving the time-reliability contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a release mechanism is added to enable quick detachment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment and detachment easeVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The release mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through the release member that can be manually operated to automatically trigger the detachment sequence. The cam surfaces and fingers work together in a self-contained manner where moving the release member automatically disengages the fingers from the openings, providing ease of operation without requiring complex external actuation systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The release member acts as an intermediary element between the operator and the connection components (fingers and openings). By introducing this intermediate component with simple cam surfaces, the system achieves easy operation through a single manual motion while keeping the overall complexity manageable, as the intermediary translates a simple motion into the coordinated detachment action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables quick and reliable attachment and detachment of the seal housing, enhancing operational efficiency during surgical procedures.

Implementation Method 1

a biasing member positioned to urge the release member towards the locked position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20260041453A1Surgical access device with improved seal housing and trocar interface
Publication Date: 2026.02.12 COVIDIEN LP
  • US20260041453A1 patent drawing
  • US20260041453A1 patent drawing
  • US20260041453A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A surgical access device includes a trocar assembly and a seal housing assembly that is releasably coupled to the trocar assembly. The trocar assembly supports a release mechanism that facilitates attachment and detachment of the seal housing assembly to/from the trocar assembly in a fast and efficient manner.