Ultrasonic Clamp Arm Proximal Nodal Pad Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasonic surgical instruments face challenges in maintaining the longevity and effectiveness of clamp pads due to exposure to heat, compression forces, and vibrations, leading to wear and tear, which affects the precision and efficiency of tissue cutting and sealing.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a positive stop clamp arm mechanism that maintains a minimum gap between the clamp pads and the blade, reducing direct contact and wear, and features alignment guides to ensure proper alignment of the clamp arm with the ultrasonic blade, enhancing tissue compression and cutting precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clamp pads are positioned in direct contact with the blade, then tissue compression and cutting effectiveness are improved, but wear and tear on the clamp pads increases due to exposure to heat, compression forces, and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp arm is divided into two functional sections: a distal section that maintains direct contact with the blade for effective tissue compression and cutting, and a proximal section that is separated from the blade by a minimum gap to reduce wear. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve both cutting effectiveness and extended clamp pad lifespan.
2Ease of operation
If the clamp arm is allowed to move freely, then ease of operation is improved, but alignment precision between the clamp arm and ultrasonic blade deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Alignment guides are introduced as intermediary elements between the clamp arm and the housing. These guides constrain the clamp arm's movement paths while allowing necessary mobility for operation. The guides ensure that the clamp arm remains properly aligned with the ultrasonic blade during operation, maintaining both ease of operation and alignment precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If clamp pads are replaced frequently to maintain precision, then cutting precision is maintained, but productivity decreases due to increased replacement frequency
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the clamp arm into worn-resistant and wear-prone sections, the system extends the overall lifespan of the clamp pad assembly. The distal section maintains contact with the blade and can be replaced independently, while the proximal section continues to function, reducing the frequency of complete replacements and maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows for replacement of only the distal section of the clamp arm that experiences wear, rather than replacing the entire clamp arm assembly. This selective replacement approach maintains cutting precision while reducing waste and operational downtime, improving overall productivity.
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
The solution prolongs the lifespan of clamp pads, maintains cutting precision, and ensures consistent tissue compression and sealing, reducing the frequency of replacements and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
an end effector having a blade element that vibrates at ultrasonic frequencies to cut and/or seal tissue (e.g., by denaturing proteins in tissue cells)
Implementation Method 2
These instruments include one or more piezoelectric elements that convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations
Data Source
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AI summary
An ultrasonic surgical instrument for cutting a tissue of a patient includes an end effector projecting from a shaft assembly, which has an acoustic waveguide configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm, and a first clamp pad. The clamp arm is coupled with the shaft assembly and is configured to selectively move relative to the ultrasonic blade from an open position and toward an ultrasonic blade to a closed position. The clamp arm further includes an abutment configured to engage a portion of the shaft assembly in the closed position thereby inhibiting further movement of the clamp arm toward the ultrasonic blade. The first clamp pad thus remains offset from the ultrasonic blade to prevent the first clamp pad from direct contact with the ultrasonic blade.