Clip Applicator Lock Mechanism for Surgical Forceps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical forceps and tweezers instruments with existing rotation stops cause irritation and unintended unlocking during the application of tissue clips due to the need to traverse an entire angular range, leading to unpleasant springback and potential loss of the clip.
Innovation Solution
The lock is positioned between the gripping and actuating portions, with the intermediate regions designed to require additional actuation beyond the primary handle for locking and unlocking, allowing for separate control of the locking mechanism through elastic deformation and sideways movement, preventing latching during primary actuation and enabling controlled locking and unlocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotation stop is arranged at the proximal end of the holding/gripping instrument to lock the clip applicator, then the clip does not fall out during transfer, but the entire angular range must be passed during application which causes unpleasant springback and irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is divided into distinct functional zones: the actuating portion for opening/closing, the intermediate region for locking, and the distal effector portion for clip application. This segmentation allows the lock to be engaged/disengaged independently from the actuating motion, eliminating the need to traverse the entire angular range and preventing unwanted springback during clip application.
2Reliability
If the lock is positioned in the intermediate region requiring additional actuation for locking, then unintended unlocking during application is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking elements are integrated into the intermediate region of the instrument branches, merging the locking function with the structural connection between the actuating and effector portions. This integration achieves reliable prevention of unintended unlocking while avoiding the need for separate, complex locking components.
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 reduces haptic irritation, facilitates targeted locking, minimizes unintentional unlocking, simplifies cleaning and manufacturing, reduces costs, and enhances user safety and ease of use by separating actuation functions and providing a tamper-proof mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
the intermediate regions are shaped in such a way that the lock cannot be brought into the locking state when the instrument is (manually) actuated exclusively at the actuating portion
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical gripping/holding instrument having two instrument branches which are coupled pivotably with respect to one another. Each branch has a distal gripping/holding portion, a proximal instrument actuating portion, and an intermediate region which connects the distal and proximal portions preferably integrally, and having an instrument lock, of which the locking elements which can be brought into latching engagement with one another are arranged or formed on the instrument branches. The actuation of the instrument for opening and closing is functionally separated from actuation of the instrument for locking and unlocking the instrument by the positioning of the instrument lock in the intermediate region of the instrument. Therefore, each actuation can be carried out individually.