Conduit Junction Segmentation for Electrosurgical Leak Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrosurgical systems face issues with conduit leaks during quality inspection, leading to the entire system being discarded, as conduits need to be long enough to span the entire system for effective cooling fluid delivery and energy transmission.
Innovation Solution
A conduit junction that interconnects sections of the electrosurgical system, allowing conduits and conductors to be shorter, facilitating efficient leak testing and enabling only flawed portions to be replaced while preserving the rest of the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire electrosurgical system is discarded when a leak is found in the conduits, then quality control is maintained, but material waste increases and maintenance costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The electrosurgical system is divided into modular sections that can be independently tested and replaced. The conduit junction serves as a segmentation point, allowing the system to be divided into replaceable segments rather than requiring disposal of the entire system when a leak is detected.
2Reliability
If the entire electrosurgical system is discarded when a leak is found, then quality control is maintained, but maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into modular sections with the conduit junction as a key interface. This segmentation enables cost-effective repair by allowing replacement of only the defective section rather than the entire system, directly reducing maintenance costs while maintaining quality control.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the entire system, the invention enables discarding and recovering only the faulty conduit section. The modular design with standardized junctions allows the remaining functional portions to be recovered and reused, reducing maintenance costs.
3Reliability
If conduits are made longer to reach the surgical tip, then cooling fluid delivery is improved, but leak risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit system is segmented into shorter sections connected through standardized junctions. This segmentation reduces the length of individual conduit sections, thereby reducing leak risk in each section while maintaining overall cooling fluid delivery capability through the modular assembly.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the electrosurgical system is designed as a single integrated unit, then system stability is improved, but repairability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses segmented design with standardized conduit junctions that maintain system stability through consistent interfaces while enabling easy repair by allowing replacement of individual sections without affecting the overall system integrity.
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
Enables efficient leak testing and reduces waste by allowing only defective parts to be replaced, while maintaining the functionality of the electrosurgical system.
Implementation Method 1
These conduits transport cooling fluid to the surgical tip of the electrosurgical system to transfer heat between the surgical tip and the fluid
Implementation Method 2
Many electrosurgical systems transmit microwave energy as well as other kinds of energy through conductors, such as, wires, cables, tubing or other suitable energy transmission structure
Data Source
AI summary
A conduit junction for use with an electrosurgical system includes a body having a lumen defined therein and at least one positioning structure. The lumen is configured to receive to receive at least a portion of a tubular structure. The tubular structure includes at least one of a conductor and a conduit of an electrosurgical system. The positioning structure is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the lumen and is adapted to position at least one of the conductor and the conduit within the body of the conduit junction. The body of the conduit junction may include a first section and a second section pivotably connected to each other. The positioning structure may include at least one rib pocket.