Articulating Ultrasonic Shaft With Balanced Curved Blade
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasonic and electrosurgical devices face challenges in articulating the distal portion of the instrument shaft to direct energy application, with asymmetric blades being costly and complex to balance.
Innovation Solution
The development of a surgical instrument with a balanced ultrasonic blade featuring a proximally positioned straight section and a distally positioned curved section, coupled with a flexible shaft and a waveguide that includes flanges for controlled articulation, allowing for precise manipulation of the end effector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If asymmetric blades are used to enable articulation, then the ability to direct energy application is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is designed with asymmetric geometry featuring a curved distal portion that differs from conventional symmetric blades. This asymmetric configuration enables the blade to articulate or pivot relative to the shaft, providing the ability to direct energy application at multiple angles while maintaining a simplified balancing approach through the curved geometry itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The distal portion of the blade incorporates a curved configuration rather than a straight design. This curvature enables the blade to articulate and change orientation relative to the shaft, providing directional control of energy application. The curved geometry inherently helps with vibration balancing while enabling the articulation function.
2Manufacturing precision
If the distal portion of the shaft is articulated to direct energy application, then precision of tissue manipulation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is designed with a flexible or articulating distal portion that can dynamically change its configuration during surgical procedures. This dynamic capability allows the distal end to articulate and direct the end effector at various angles relative to the proximal shaft, enabling precise tissue manipulation without requiring a complex articulated mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The distal portion of the shaft incorporates flexible elements that allow it to bend and articulate relative to the proximal shaft. This flexibility enables the shaft to change direction and orientation, providing precise control of the end effector while avoiding the complexity of rigid articulated joints.
3Ease of operation
If asymmetric blades are used for articulation, then control of end effector is improved, but vibration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric blade design with its curved distal portion provides control of the end effector through articulation while the specific asymmetric geometry is configured to balance vibrations. The curvature and mass distribution of the asymmetric blade are designed to minimize harmful vibrations during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved distal portion of the blade is specifically designed to provide articulation control while the curvature itself contributes to vibration balancing. The curved geometry distributes mass and stiffness in a way that reduces vibration amplitude while maintaining the ability to direct the end effector precisely.
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 and efficient cutting and coagulation of tissue with reduced complexity and cost, facilitating improved control and reduced vibration in surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
Ultrasonic surgical devices can provide substantially simultaneous transection of tissue and homeostasis by coagulation... Vibrating at high frequencies (e.g., 55,500 times per second), the ultrasonic blade denatures protein in the tissue
Implementation Method 2
The blade is acoustically coupled to the transducer via a waveguide extending through the shaft
Implementation Method 3
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 4
Pressure exerted on tissue by the blade surface collapses blood vessels and allows the coagulum to form a hemostatic seal
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.