Articulating Endoscopic Forceps Shaft Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in minimally invasive surgical procedures is positioning articulating surgical instruments, such as endoscopic forceps, within the limited space of a patient's cavity, which is complicated by the need for articulating links and tendons that increase manufacturing costs and production time.
Innovation Solution
An endoscopic forceps design featuring a shaft with a first tube having a pre-formed bent configuration and a second tube that follows its contour, allowing for articulation without external links or tendons, with a cam pin system and a cutter shaft for tissue treatment, and the ability to connect to electrosurgical energy for precise tissue manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If articulating links and tendons are added to enable shaft articulation, then the surgical instrument can be positioned adjacent target tissue, but manufacturing costs and production time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the tube from rigid to flexible by using a pre-formed bent configuration that can be straightened through translational movement. This allows the tube to transition between articulated and non-articulated states without adding complex mechanical components like tendons or articulating links.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic structure where the tube can change its configuration from bent to straight through translational movement along its longitudinal axis. This dynamic capability allows the end effector to be positioned adjacent to target tissue when needed while maintaining a simpler overall structure compared to traditional articulating mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If articulating links and tendons are added to enable shaft articulation, then the surgical instrument can be positioned adjacent target tissue, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the tube from rigid to flexible by using a pre-formed bent configuration that can be straightened through translational movement. This allows the tube to transition between articulated and non-articulated states without adding complex mechanical components like tendons or articulating links.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic structure where the tube can change its configuration from bent to straight through translational movement along its longitudinal axis. This dynamic capability allows the end effector to be positioned adjacent to target tissue when needed while maintaining a simpler overall structure compared to traditional articulating mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If the shaft is made translatable to straighten the bent portion, then articulation is achieved without external links, but the mechanism requires precise translational control
Solution Approach 1:
The tube's pre-formed bent configuration automatically straightens when translational force is applied, eliminating the need for external articulating links or tendons. The structure itself provides the articulation mechanism through its inherent flexibility and pre-formed geometry, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic structure where the tube can change its configuration from bent to straight through translational movement along its longitudinal axis. This dynamic capability allows the end effector to be positioned adjacent to target tissue when needed while maintaining a simpler overall structure compared to traditional articulating mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscopic forceps is provided. The endoscopic forceps includes a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough. The shaft has a first tube with a bent portion having a contour. A second tube is disposed within the first tube. An end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the first tube has a pair of first and second jaw members. The first and second jaw members including respective cam slots defined therein with a cam pin movable therein. The shaft is translatable along the longitudinal axis to straighten the bent portion of the first tube to move the bent portion of the first tube from an articulated configuration to a non-articulated configuration. The second tube is translatable along the longitudinal axis to move the first and second jaw members from the open configuration to the clamping configuration.