Articulating Surgical Shaft With Balanced Ultrasonic Blade
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasonic and electrosurgical devices face challenges in articulating the distal portion of the instrument shaft to direct energy application, and balancing asymmetric blades is costly and complex.
Innovation Solution
The surgical instruments feature a flexible shaft with a bendable waveguide and biased inner shaft, allowing for articulation, and a balanced ultrasonic blade with a curved section that includes a node or anti-node at the point of tangency for reduced vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the distal portion of the instrument shaft is made articulating to direct energy application, then the adaptability and precision of energy delivery are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is divided into multiple segments including a proximal shaft portion, a bendable waveguide portion, and a distal shaft portion. The waveguide portion can be articulation relative to the proximal shaft portion, allowing the distal end to be positioned at various angles. This segmentation enables articulation capability while keeping each individual segment relatively simple in structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide portion is designed to be bendable and articulating rather than rigid, allowing dynamic adjustment of the distal end position. The waveguide can be rotated and bent to different angles to direct energy application to various anatomical structures, providing adaptability without requiring a completely complex mechanical structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If asymmetric blades are used to direct energy application, then the adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing precision and balancing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is designed with an asymmetric configuration where the distal end is offset from the proximal end, creating a curved path for ultrasonic energy transmission. This asymmetric design allows the blade to be balanced at a node or anti-node position, simplifying the balancing process while maintaining the ability to direct energy to various anatomical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade design incorporates specific dimensional parameters including the offset between distal and proximal ends, the radius of curvature, and the angular orientation. By optimizing these parameters, the blade achieves proper balancing at node or anti-node positions, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining asymmetric functionality for directed energy application.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the blade is balanced at a node or anti-node, then the vibration and manufacturing cost are reduced, but the blade design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is designed to vibrate at ultrasonic frequencies to transmit mechanical energy for cutting and coagulation. By positioning the blade to be balanced at a node or anti-node of the vibration pattern, unwanted vibrations and energy loss are minimized, improving the efficiency of ultrasonic energy transmission while reducing blade oscillation.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade is designed with a curved geometry rather than a straight configuration. The curvature of the blade allows it to be balanced at specific points (nodes or anti-nodes) during vibration, reducing unwanted oscillations and improving energy transmission efficiency. The curved shape also allows the blade to engage with tissue more effectively while maintaining vibration control.
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 enables precise and efficient articulation of the instrument shaft and reduces manufacturing costs by simplifying blade balancing, enhancing surgical precision and control.
Implementation Method 1
Vibrating at high frequencies (e.g., 55,500 times per second), the ultrasonic blade denatures protein in the tissue to form a sticky coagulum
Implementation Method 2
The blade is acoustically coupled to the transducer via a waveguide extending through the shaft
Implementation Method 3
The shaft may include a flexible portion and an inner shaft that is biased to bend away from the longitudinal axis
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to end effectors. An end effector includes an outer shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and an inner shaft partially located within the outer shaft. The end effector may include an ultrasonic blade. The inner shaft may include biased and unbiased portions. The inner shaft and outer shaft may be translatable relative to one another. At one translatable position, the biased portion of the inner shaft may be located within the outer shaft and the unbiased portion may be substantially straight along the longitudinal axis. At another translatable position, the biased portion of the inner shaft may be located outside of and distally positioned from the outer shaft such that the biased portion of the inner shaft is bent away from the longitudinal axis.