Articulating Surgical Blade Assembly With Oscillating Drive Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic surgical instruments face difficulties in incorporating an articulating function due to the rigid nature of their waveguides, limiting access and maneuverability during minimally invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a flexible or bendable articulating section and a drive shaft that allows for the oscillation of a blade member, driven by a rotatable drive shaft, enabling articulation and tissue treatment without the need for rigid waveguides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid waveguide is used in ultrasonic surgical instruments, then structural stability is maintained, but articulation and maneuverability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is divided into multiple segments including a proximal shaft portion, an articulating section with articulating joints, and a distal shaft portion. This segmentation allows the distal end to articulate independently while the proximal end remains stable, resolving the contradiction between articulation capability and structural rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulating section incorporates articulating joints that enable dynamic movement between the proximal and distal shaft portions. This dynamic capability allows the instrument to adapt its configuration for improved access to surgical sites while maintaining structural integrity through controlled articulation mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If a rigid waveguide structure is used, then ultrasonic energy transmission is efficient, but access to surgical sites through small incisions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the shaft into articulating portions, the instrument can navigate through small incisions and narrow cannulas more easily. The articulating joints allow the distal end to bend and reach difficult-to-access surgical sites while maintaining the overall structural framework needed for energy transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulating section employs flexible coupling mechanisms between shaft segments that allow bending and angular movement. This flexibility enables the instrument to access confined surgical spaces through minimally invasive entry points while the rigid distal shaft portion maintains structural stability for effective tissue treatment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an articulating mechanism is added to the shaft, then maneuverability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating mechanism is localized to a specific articulating section between the proximal and distal shaft portions, rather than making the entire shaft complex. This segmented approach concentrates the complexity in a manageable region while keeping the proximal and distal portions relatively simple and functional.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulating joints provide controlled dynamic movement with defined degrees of freedom, allowing the distal end to articulate in specific directions as needed for surgical access. This controlled dynamics approach manages complexity by limiting articulation to necessary movements rather than allowing unrestricted flexibility throughout the entire shaft.
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 effective tissue sealing and cutting with enhanced maneuverability and access, allowing for minimally invasive procedures with improved surgical precision and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The cam follower may have a protuberance, and the cam member may have a protuberance configured to selectively engage the protuberance of the cam follower during rotation of the drive shaft
Implementation Method 2
The biasing member may be configured to resiliently bias the cam follower in a proximal direction toward the cam member
Implementation Method 3
The drive shaft has a proximal end portion configured to be operably coupled to a drive motor
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument for treating tissue includes an articulating elongated shaft (14), a drive shaft (124) extending through the elongated shaft and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis defined by the drive shaft, and an end effector assembly (100) coupled to a distal end portion of the elongated shaft. The end effector assembly includes a jaw member (110) and a blade member (112) configured to oscillate in response to a rotation of the drive shaft (124) to treat tissue disposed between the jaw member and the blade member.