Single use integrated speed reduction and gearless device
AssigneeECA Medical Instruments
InventorJohn Nino
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A single use integrated disposable rotational speed reduction assembly having a shaft assembly, a housing, an output assembly, and a plurality of planetary gears each having a plurality of gear teeth. The shaft assembly is configured to cause rotation of the planetary gears with a sun gear. The rotation of the planetary gears is configured to cause rotation of an output shaft, with a reduction of rotational speed relative to the rotation of the shaft assembly. One or more gear components or spacers can be configured to fail after a predetermined number of use cycles.
Claims21
A single use integrated rotational speed reduction assembly comprising:
- a shaft assembly comprising a drive shaft (301) and a sun gear (510) attached to the drive shaft;
- a housing;
- a plurality of planetary gears (120) each having a plurality of gear teeth;
- and,
- an output assembly (150);
- wherein one or more of gears is non-metal;
- and,
- wherein the one or more non-metal teeth are frangible after a predetermined number of use cycles.
A single use speed reduction system comprising:
- a drive shaft (301);
- a shaft having a sun gear thereon;
- a housing having an interior annular wall surface (103) with a gear ring (104) thereon;
- a plurality of planetary gears (120) each having a plurality of gear teeth;
- an output assembly (150);
- wherein the shaft is mated with the housing;
- wherein
- one or more of gears is non-metal;
- and
- wherein one or more non-metal teeth are frangible after a predetermined number of use cycles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.