Insertion Forceps With Axial Shaft Control for Precise Grasping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical forceps lack precision and fine control for grasping and manipulating small objects due to the pivot location requiring a greater travel distance for handle manipulation.
Innovation Solution
A shaft configured for axial movement within a sheath, with a cantilevered projection and actuator, such as a squeeze-bulb, to provide precise clamping and grasping control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a pivot location is adjusted to provide finer cutting or grasping action, then precision is improved, but the travel distance for the handle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional pivot-based mechanical linkage with a rail-guided linear movement system. The movable jaw is constrained to move along a predetermined linear path defined by the rail, eliminating the need for pivot joints and handle travel. This substitution of mechanical principle allows precise control of the jaw's movement path and distance, achieving fine grasping precision without requiring long handle travel.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into fixed and movable components with independent functions. The rail provides a stable reference framework while the movable jaw can independently translate along the rail. This segmentation allows the jaw to achieve precise positioning through controlled linear movement rather than relying on pivot geometry, resolving the contradiction between precision and travel distance.
2Measurement precision
If the jaw is configured to travel at an appropriate scale for fine control, then grasping precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex pivot joint mechanism is replaced with a simpler rail-guided linear translation system. The rail provides geometric constraints that automatically guide the jaw's movement path, eliminating the need for complex linkages, pivots, and associated adjustment mechanisms. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining precise control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rail acts as an intermediary element between the fixed jaw and movable jaw, providing a predetermined movement path. This intermediary component simplifies the direct interaction between jaws by constraining movement to a known linear trajectory, reducing the complexity of controlling jaw relative positioning while ensuring precise scale-appropriate travel for fine grasping tasks.
Data Source
AI summary
An example device can include a tubular segment. The tubular segment can have a first end face, a second end, a center axis, and a sidewall. The first end face is disposed at the first end and is contiguous with the second end and aligned on the center axis. The sidewall has an aperture disposed proximate to the first end face and between the first end face and the second end. A shaft of the device is configured for axial movement relative to the tubular segment and within a portion of the tubular segment. The shaft is configured to exert a clamping force between a distal end of the shaft and a portion of the first end face.