Articulating Surgical Clamp for Precise Cardiac Tissue Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical devices face challenges in precisely locating target cardiac tissue for ablation and creating continuous, transmural lesions due to the heart's structure, particularly when isolating pulmonary veins, which are difficult to access.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device with an articulating mechanism that allows jaws to move between open, intermediate, and closed positions, featuring a crank-operated actuator linkage and flexible guide connectors for precise tissue clamping and ablation, including electrodes for radio frequency energy application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional linear clamp design is used, then the device structure is simple, but the ability to precisely locate target cardiac tissue and create continuous lesions is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp incorporates an articulating mechanism that allows the jaws to dynamically change their relative positions and orientations. The first jaw can articulate relative to the second jaw, enabling the clamp to adapt to the curved surfaces of the heart and precisely locate target tissue such as pulmonary veins, while maintaining a manageable device structure through controlled degrees of freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulating mechanism introduces an additional degree of freedom beyond simple linear opening and closing. By allowing the first jaw to articulate in multiple dimensions relative to the second jaw, the device can reach posterior structures like pulmonary veins and create continuous lesions across complex cardiac geometries, transforming a one-dimensional linear motion into multi-dimensional positioning capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the clamp jaws are kept fixed and parallel, then the mechanism is simple, but the ability to adapt to different cardiac locations and create continuous lesions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating mechanism enables the clamp to dynamically adjust its configuration during the procedure. The first jaw can articulate relative to the second jaw, allowing the device to adapt to different cardiac locations and anatomical variations, while the articulation is constrained enough to maintain structural integrity and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulating mechanism changes the geometric parameters of the clamp jaws during operation. By allowing the first jaw to articulate relative to the second jaw, the device can modify its jaw orientation and positioning parameters to match the specific anatomy being treated, enabling versatile application across different cardiac structures while maintaining a relatively simple underlying mechanism.
3Manufacturing precision
If sequential shorter lesions are created at different positions, then the ablation can reach difficult areas, but the continuity and depth of the lesion line is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating mechanism allows the clamp to maintain continuous contact with the cardiac tissue while articulating to reach difficult areas. By enabling the first jaw to articulate relative to the second jaw, the device can create a continuous lesion line even when navigating around anatomical obstacles, eliminating the need for sequential shorter lesions and improving lesion continuity without significantly increasing procedural complexity.
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 precise positioning and clamping of cardiac tissue, facilitating the creation of continuous lesions without repositioning, enhancing the efficacy of cardiac ablation procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a pivotably mounted crank, the crank operably coupling an actuator linkage to the first jaw mount so that moving the actuator linkage rotates the crank, wherein rotation of the crank moves the first jaw mount along the path
Implementation Method 2
an articulating mechanism operable to move the first jaw between an open position in which the first jaw and the second jaw are separated and substantially non-parallel, an intermediate position in which the first jaw and the second jaw are separated and substantially parallel, and a closed position in which the first jaw and the second jaw are substantially adjacent and substantially parallel
Implementation Method 3
moving the actuator linkage rotates the crank
Data Source
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AI summary
An end effector for a surgical device, the end effector comprising: a first jaw; a second jaw; and an articulating mechanism operable to move the first jaw between an open position in which the first jaw and the second jaw are separated and substantially non-parallel, an intermediate position in which the first jaw and the second jaw are separated and substantially parallel, and a closed position in which the first jaw and the second jaw are substantially adjacent and substantially parallel; wherein the articulating mechanism comprises a first jaw mount coupled to the first jaw, the first jaw mount being movable along a path, wherein movement of the first jaw mount along the path causes rotation and translation of the first jaw mount and the first jaw, thereby moving the first jaw between the open position, the intermediate position, and the closed position, and a pivotably mounted crank, the crank operably coupling an actuator linkage to the first jaw mount so that moving the actuator linkage rotates the crank, wherein rotation of the crank moves the first jaw mount along the path.