New Ways to Mate Parts

Design World Exchange Featured Editorial

Whether it is improving the feel of surgical scissor adjustment, collaborating to develop innovative fastening systems, improving joint consistency, or finding reliable retaining, check out these innovations in fastening.

In any assembly, you must connect pieces together—somehow. Exactly how you accomplish this goal opens the door to innovative thinking. Here’s a look at several recent developments.

Joint makeover
When a major medical device manufacturer received discouraging feedback from surgeons about their surgical scissors, they went into action to redesign them. The surgeons reported that the scissors were difficult to control. It seems the screw and small nut used in the hinge mechanism, although secure and reliable, was either too loose or too tight to allow pinpoint operation accuracy.

Endoscopy surgical scissors need a consistent “feel” so that opening and closing the blades is sensed the same way every time. It was evident to the surgeons during delicate procedures that, although they visually positioned the scissors and cut by sight, of equal and critical importance was the minimal friction experienced when adjusting the blades.

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