Compliant Surgical Grasper Jaws for Clamping Force Limitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical tissue graspers do not effectively limit clamping force to a predetermined threshold, are difficult to manufacture, and are costly to assemble.
Innovation Solution
A surgical tissue grasper with a compliant jaw assembly that includes a handle, endoscopic assembly, and jaw assembly, where the jaws are formed of compliant materials and designed to flex when a predetermined clamping force is exceeded, limiting the maximum force applied to tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional rigid jaw assemblies are used, then manufacturing precision and assembly complexity are high, but clamping force cannot be limited to a predetermined threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw assembly is constructed from compliant materials with specific mechanical properties that allow it to flex and buckle at a predetermined force threshold. By changing the material parameters and structural geometry, the system automatically limits clamping force without requiring complex control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The compliant jaw assembly self-regulates clamping force through its inherent mechanical compliance. When the predetermined force threshold is reached, the jaw structure naturally flexes or buckles, automatically limiting further force application without external control systems
2Object-affected harmful factors
If compliant materials are used in the jaw assembly, then tissue trauma is reduced through automatic force limiting, but manufacturing and assembly costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By carefully selecting compliant materials with appropriate mechanical properties and designing the jaw geometry to achieve the desired force threshold, the system reduces tissue trauma while maintaining manufacturing feasibility. The single-piece molded construction further reduces manufacturing complexity
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the jaw assembly is designed to flex at a predetermined force threshold, then tissue trauma is reduced, but the structural strength of the jaw is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw assembly has non-uniform structural properties: the gripping portions are designed with higher strength to maintain structural integrity, while specific regions are engineered with controlled compliance to flex at the force threshold. This local differentiation allows force limiting without compromising overall jaw strength
Solution Approach 2:
The jaw assembly is divided into functionally distinct regions: rigid gripping portions for structural strength and compliant portions for force limiting. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function while working together as an integrated unit
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 compliant jaw assembly ensures that the clamping force is maintained within a safe threshold, reducing tissue trauma while being easy to manufacture and assemble, thus lowering costs.
Implementation Method 1
The gripping portions or the outer supports are configured to flex when a predetermined threshold of clamping force is reached in order to limit a maximum clamping force to the predetermined threshold
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical tissue grasper includes a handle assembly having a trigger, an endoscopic assembly, and a jaw assembly. The endoscopic assembly includes an outer tube and a driver. The driver is movable within the outer tube and operatively coupled to the trigger. The jaw assembly includes a stem detachably coupled to the driver, and a pair of jaws extending distally from the stem such that actuation of the trigger transitions the pair of jaws between spaced apart and approximated configurations to enable clamping of tissue. Each jaw of the pair of jaws includes a gripping portion and an outer support. The gripping portion is configured to engage tissue. The outer support is disposed outward of the gripping portion and coupled to an end portion of the gripping portion to enable flexing of the gripping portion or the outer support when a clamping force applied to tissue exceeds a predetermined threshold.