Conical Bending Jig for Precise Shaping of Malleable Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Malleable medical tools are difficult for physicians to bend to a desired shape or correct from incorrect bends, especially when they develop crimps, due to their rigidity and lack of precise bending mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A jig apparatus with a conical recess and an elongated cylindrical hole, featuring angular markings, allows for precise bending and straightening of malleable tools by adjusting the tool's position within the hole to achieve specific angles, facilitating the bending process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a malleable tool is made rigid to maintain structural integrity during use, then strength is improved, but the tool becomes difficult to bend and shape
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is bent and shaped into the desired configuration before being inserted into the patient's body. The malleable section is pre-formed to the required angle or shape while the tool is still accessible and can be manipulated, eliminating the need to bend it during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool incorporates a malleable section with specific material properties that allow it to be easily bent within a certain force range, but maintains its shape once formed. The material parameters are selected to provide both ease of bending during shaping and rigidity during use.
2Ease of operation
If a malleable tool is made flexible to allow easy bending and shaping, then ease of operation is improved, but the tool loses rigidity and structural integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is divided into distinct sections: a rigid section for structural support and a malleable section for bending. This segmentation allows different parts of the tool to have different mechanical properties, with the rigid portion maintaining strength and the malleable portion providing ease of shaping.
Solution Approach 2:
Only a specific local section of the tool is made malleable to allow bending, while the rest of the tool remains rigid. This localized change in material property enables the tool to be shaped where needed without compromising the overall structural integrity.
3Manufacturing precision
If a dedicated bending tool with complex mechanisms is used to achieve precise bending angles, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The malleable section of the tool has inherent material properties that allow it to be bent to specific angles through simple manual manipulation. The material itself provides the bending characteristics, eliminating the need for complex mechanical bending devices or mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The material parameters of the malleable section are specifically selected to enable precise bending at desired angles through simple force application. The material's flow stress and ductility are optimized to allow accurate angle control without requiring complex bending mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a jig apparatus for bending a malleable tool includes a block having an upper surface and containing, a conical recess extending into the block through the upper surface of the block, defined by an elliptical directrix on the upper surface, an apex within the block, and generatrixes disposed about a central axis of the conical recess extending from the apex to the directrix, and an elongated cylindrical hole, which is sized to fit the malleable tool therein and has a longitudinal axis extending from the conical recess into the block at an oblique angle relative to the central axis of the conical recess, and angular markings disposed on the upper surface and around a circumference of the elliptical directrix.