Bovie Adapter Rotational Control Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrosurgical instruments lack control over the rotation of the elongate electrosurgical member around its long axis, leading to inefficiencies and imprecision during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
An adapter with a socket and stabilizer that mounts non-rotatably onto the electrosurgical instrument, allowing limited rotational freedom (between 0.1° to 5°) and featuring stabilizing surfaces to inhibit excessive rotation, while maintaining access to control features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the electrosurgical instrument is designed to be lightweight and disposable, then ease of manufacture and cost-effectiveness are improved, but control over rotation of the elongate electrosurgical member deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
An adapter is introduced as an intermediary component between the handle and the electrosurgical member. The adapter includes a stabilizer with stabilizing surfaces that contact the electrosurgical member to prevent rotation, while the socket portion allows the member to pass through. This intermediary device adds rotational control functionality without requiring redesign of the entire lightweight disposable instrument.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the socket is designed to accept the electrosurgical member in multiple rotational orientations, then adaptability is improved, but rotational control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The socket is designed with asymmetric features including an asymmetric opening and asymmetric stabilizing surfaces that are positioned at specific angles relative to each other. This asymmetric configuration allows the electrosurgical member to be inserted in multiple orientations while the stabilizer ultimately constrains rotation to a predetermined angular range, balancing adaptability with rotational control.
3Ease of operation
If the stabilizer is designed with stabilizing surfaces positioned at multiple points, then rotational control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer is segmented into multiple discrete stabilizing surfaces positioned at different angular locations around the electrosurgical member. Each stabilizing surface contacts the member at a specific point, and the combination of these segmented surfaces provides comprehensive rotational control. The socket is also segmented with multiple openings to accommodate different member configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
An adapter for an electrosurgical instrument includes a socket and a stabilizer extending from the socket. The socket includes a mounting surface having a geometry arranged and disposed to accept a distal end of the electrosurgical instrument, and at least one retaining surface, which arranged and disposed to interact with a conformation of the electrosurgical instrument when the socket is mounted onto the electrosurgical instrument such that the socket mounts non-rotatably.