Atraumatic Prong Forceps Tissue Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical forceps often cause tissue damage due to excessive forceful contact, leading to bruising, fraying, and iatrogenic injury, especially during lengthy surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
The surgical forceps are designed with a scissors style mechanism constructed from flexibly resilient sheet metal, featuring a pair of flat, opposable jaws with at least one sharp prong. This design minimizes forceable contact with the tissue, allowing the prong to grip or partly penetrate the tissue while the remaining surface area is held gently by friction and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional forceps with wide jaw contact are used to grip tissue, then the tissue can be held securely, but the tissue suffers from bruising, fraying, and iatrogenic injury due to excessive crushing force distributed over a large area
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw contact surface is segmented into two distinct zones: a small sharp prong (approximately 0.5mm diameter) for focused gripping, and a larger flat surface for gentle support. This segmentation allows the forceps to apply crushing force only at the prong while the flat surface provides distributed support without causing damage.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the jaw have different functional qualities: the prong region is sharp and small for secure gripping with minimal contact area, while the flat jaw surface is broad and smooth for gentle support. This local differentiation of properties allows simultaneous achievement of secure grip and tissue protection.
2Force
If scissors forceps with toothed interlock are used to lock jaws in place, then the clamping force is maintained, but the tissue is subjected to continuous external pressure on both internal and external surfaces causing fatigue and bruising
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping function is segmented between the prong (which provides the necessary gripping force through penetration) and the flat jaw surface (which provides minimal contact support). This segmentation ensures that continuous pressure is applied only at the small prong contact point rather than across the entire tissue surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The force application is localized to the sharp prong region, while the flat jaw surface maintains a non-forceful, supportive contact. This local differentiation of force application prevents the distributed continuous pressure that causes tissue fatigue and bruising in conventional forceps.
3Ease of operation
If forceps are frequently moved and manipulated during surgery, then surgical tasks can be performed, but the weight of the forceps pulls or drags on incision edges causing fraying and shredding of tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The contact interface is designed with a sharp prong that penetrates and anchors in the tissue, creating a localized secure attachment point. This allows the forceps to be maneuvered without the entire jaw surface dragging on the tissue, reducing fraying and shredding while maintaining ease of operation.
4Reliability
If excessive crushing force is applied to grip tissue firmly, then the tissue can be held securely, but internal blood flow within the tissue is restricted causing iatrogenic injury
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping function is segmented to concentrate force only at the sharp prong contact point (approximately 0.5mm diameter), while the surrounding tissue area remains under minimal pressure from the flat jaw surface. This segmentation allows secure gripping without the distributed excessive crushing force that restricts blood flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The force application is highly localized to the prong region, creating a small area of high pressure for secure grip while the majority of the tissue surface experiences minimal pressure. This local differentiation preserves blood flow in the surrounding tissue while maintaining reliable grip security at the contact point.
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
This design effectively minimizes tissue damage by reducing the surface area of forceful contact, allowing for gentle tissue manipulation and reducing the risk of bruising and fraying, while also enabling the forceps to be rotated without causing injury.
Implementation Method 1
The surgical forceps are comprised of flexibly resistant sheet metal components pivotally connected
Implementation Method 2
Pressing on the handles of the forceps cause the jaws to close allowing the prong to grip or partly penetrate the tissue
Implementation Method 3
The remaining surface area of the tissue which is contained between the flat jaws of the forceps is held gently in position by its own weight and by limited frictional contact with the flat jaw surfaces
Implementation Method 4
The remaining surface area of the tissue which is contained between the flat jaws of the forceps is held gently in position by its own weight
Data Source
AI summary
An atraumatic, scissor-type, surgical forceps is disclosed which incorporates a pair of flat jaws pivotally connected and opposite one another. One or more prongs project from the surface of one flat jaw toward the opposite jaw of the forceps which is without prongs. The jaws are connected to a handle made from flexibly resilient sheet metal which by design limits damage to biological tissue during surgical procedures by preventing the prongs from fully penetrating the tissue.