Atraumatic Microsurgical Forceps Gradual Jaw Closure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Microsurgical procedures, such as ophthalmic surgeries, face challenges in separating tissues with non-flat surface geometries without causing trauma, particularly when dealing with convex surfaces like the retina.

Innovation Solution

The development of atraumatic microsurgical forceps with a design featuring a handle, outer hypodermic tube, and surgical blank, where the forceps jaws are configured to gradually close and open, ensuring initial contact at the distal ends to minimize trauma during tissue separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional forceps are used to grasp and manipulate tissues, then the surgeon can perform microsurgical procedures, but the forceps may cause trauma to the tissue, especially when separating tissues with non-flat surface geometries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue manipulation capabilityVSAvoidtissue trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The forceps jaws are designed with different properties at different locations: the distal ends have a smooth, rounded configuration for atraumatic tissue contact, while the proximal portions maintain structural integrity for mechanical strength. This local differentiation allows the forceps to grasp and manipulate tissues effectively while minimizing trauma at the tissue interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The distal ends of the forceps jaws are configured with a curved, rounded geometry rather than sharp edges or flat surfaces. This spheroidal configuration distributes contact pressure more evenly across the tissue surface, preventing focal points of high stress that would cause trauma, particularly when separating convex surfaces like the retina.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Strength

If the forceps jaws close completely to secure tissue grasp, then the tissue can be held firmly, but the underlying tissue may be compressed or damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue grasp securityVSAvoidunderlying tissue compression

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the forceps are designed with a simple compression mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to gradually close and open the jaws for atraumatic operation is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanism structureVSAvoidgradual jaw closure control

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The forceps incorporate a dynamic compression mechanism where the outer hypodermic tube can extend and retract relative to the surgical blank. This dynamic structure allows the jaws to close gradually as the tube extends, providing controlled, progressive grasping that minimizes sudden tissue compression while maintaining mechanical strength through the rigid surgical blank construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10588652B2Atraumatic microsurgical forceps

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 KATALYST SURGICAL LLC

AI summary

An atraumatic microsurgical forceps may include a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end, an outer hypodermic tube having an outer hypodermic tube distal end and an outer hypodermic tube proximal end, a surgical blank having a surgical blank distal end and a surgical blank proximal end, and a plurality of atraumatic forceps jaws of the surgical blank each atraumatic forceps jaw of the plurality of atraumatic forceps jaws having an atraumatic forceps jaw distal end and an atraumatic forceps jaw proximal end. A compression of the handle may be configured to gradually close the plurality of atraumatic forceps jaws wherein the plurality of atraumatic forceps jaws initially contact at the atraumatic forceps jaws distal ends.