Airtight Member With Differential Contact Widths For Surgical Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatment tools face challenges in maintaining airtightness between moving components during ultrasound or high-frequency energy applications to body tissues, leading to potential leaks and reduced effectiveness in procedures like coagulation and incision.
Innovation Solution
A treatment tool with an airtight member that has a smaller contact width with the movable member compared to the fixation member, utilizing an elastically deformable airtight member with bifurcated arms to secure airtightness and reduce sliding friction between the movable and fixation members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an airtight member with equal contact width is used between fixation member and movable member, then airtightness is maintained, but sliding friction increases and moves the center of pressure toward the distal end
Solution Approach 1:
The airtight member employs different contact widths at different locations: a first contact width with the fixation member and a second contact width with the movable member. This local differentiation allows the proximal portion to have larger contact area for stability while the distal portion has smaller contact area to reduce friction and maintain proper pressure distribution.
2Reliability
If contact width between airtight member and movable member is increased, then airtightness is improved, but center of pressure shifts to distal end affecting operation
Solution Approach 1:
The airtight member employs different contact widths at different locations: a first contact width with the fixation member and a second contact width with the movable member. This local differentiation allows the proximal portion to have larger contact area for stability while the distal portion has smaller contact area to maintain proper pressure distribution and operational characteristics.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single contact width is used for the airtight member, then manufacturing is simplified, but performance under abdominal air pressure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The airtight member employs different contact widths at different locations: a first contact width with the fixation member and a second contact width with the movable member. This local differentiation allows the proximal portion to have larger contact area for stability while the distal portion has smaller contact area to maintain proper pressure distribution and operational characteristics.
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 solution effectively maintains airtightness and reduces sliding friction, enhancing the tool's performance and reliability during procedures by ensuring consistent contact and pressure distribution, even under abdominal air pressure.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable airtight member with bifurcated arms to secure airtightness and reduce sliding friction between the movable and fixation members
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment tool includes: a handle; an elongated fixation member a proximal end side of which is fixed to the handle; a movable member that is provided coaxially with the fixation member, the movable member being configured to move with respect to the fixation member; and an airtight member which is provided between the fixation member and the movable member and in which a second contact width in contact with the movable member is smaller than a first contact width in contact with the fixation member.