End Effector Actuation Platform With Axial Jaw Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopic devices face issues such as limited visibility due to outward-extending drive arms, increased rigidity, and tissue damage during electro-cauterization, primarily because the drive arms obstruct the field of view and require longer profiles, and conductive components risk damaging surrounding tissue.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a driver assembly with a stopper feature that restricts the movement of jaws to a defined angle, ensuring they open and close without extending radially, using a single drive arm that moves along the longitudinal axis, and employs non-conductive materials to prevent tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional drive arms are used to actuate jaws, then the jaws can be opened and closed, but the drive arms extend outward from the longitudinal axis which limits user visibility and increases device rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The drive arm is repositioned from an outward-extending configuration to a longitudinal configuration, changing the spatial dimension of movement from radial to axial. This allows the drive arm to move along the longitudinal axis of the device rather than extending outward, thereby improving visibility while maintaining jaw actuation capability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the drive arm extending outward to actuate the jaws, the invention inverts the approach by having the drive arm move longitudinally and use a stopper feature to actuate the jaws. This reverses the conventional configuration and resolves the visibility issue
2Ease of operation
If conventional drive arms extend outward to actuate jaws, then jaw movement is achieved, but the device requires a longer rigid length which limits its ability to pass through an articulated scope
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism transitions from a radial extension configuration to a longitudinal movement configuration. The drive arm moves along the longitudinal axis rather than extending outward, reducing the device's rigid length and enabling it to pass through articulated scopes while still achieving jaw actuation through the stopper feature
3Ease of operation
If conventional drive arms with conductive components are used, then jaw actuation is achieved, but surrounding tissue is not easily insulated from the conductive drive wires causing tissue damage during electro-cauterization
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive components are removed from the drive arm structure. The invention uses a non-conductive drive arm that actuates the jaws through a mechanical stopper feature rather than through conductive drive wires, thereby eliminating the source of tissue damage during electro-cauterization while maintaining jaw actuation functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces permanent conductive drive wires with a non-conductive drive arm and stopper mechanism. This substitution eliminates the harmful conductive elements that caused tissue damage, using a simpler non-conductive structure that performs the same jaw actuation function without the associated risks
Data Source
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AI summary
An endoscopic device includes a base, one or more end effectors, and an actuating assembly. The base includes a cylindrical shaft will a hollow interior. The end effectors are connected to the distal portion of the base such that the end effectors are movable between open and closed positions. The actuating assembly moves the end effectors between the open and closed position. The actuating assembly includes a driver that has at least one stopper feature extending radially from the driver shaft. The driver of the actuating assembly is at least partially disposed within the hollow interior of the base such that the stopper feature is movable in an opening of the base. The stopper feature engages a distal edge of the opening to prevent movement of the driver in a distal direction relative to the base and engages a proximal edge of the opening to prevent movement of the driver in a proximal direction relative to the base. Movement of the driver in the distal direction causes the end effectors to move to the open position, and movement of the driver in the proximal direction causes the end effectors to move to the closed position.