Disposable Locking Forceps with Interlocking Teeth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional forceps designs are inadequate for surgical procedures, particularly in bone reduction, as they rely on metal materials and lack functionality enhancements for single-use disposable medical tools.

Innovation Solution

The forceps devices incorporate engagement features such as teeth and indentations that lock in a clamped position, allowing surgeons to control the operation by engaging or disengaging these features, enabling secure clamping and easy opening, and are constructed from lightweight, inexpensive materials like plastics and nylon polymers for single-use applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional metal-based materials are used in forceps devices, then strength and durability are improved, but weight increases and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestrengthVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent describes forceps devices designed for single-use disposable applications, replacing durable metal instruments with lightweight plastic versions that are discarded after one use. This eliminates the need for heavy metal construction while accepting the trade-off of reduced durability, as the device is intended for one-time use only.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs plastic materials with reinforced structures to achieve adequate strength without the weight of metal. The use of engineered plastics and composite construction allows the forceps to maintain functional strength while being significantly lighter than conventional metal-based forceps devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If conventional metal-based materials are used in forceps devices, then strength is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestrengthVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameters from metal to plastic, fundamentally altering the cost structure. Plastic materials are less expensive to manufacture, process, and dispose of compared to metal, enabling cost-effective single-use devices while maintaining sufficient mechanical properties for surgical applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If engagement features with teeth and indentations are added to lock the forceps in clamped position, then reliability of clamping is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of clampingVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the forceps structure into distinct functional segments, including separate engagement features with teeth and complementary indentations. This segmentation allows the locking mechanism to be integrated into the overall design without requiring a completely separate complex system, as the features are distributed across different components of the forceps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent integrates the engagement features with teeth and indentations directly into the forceps structure, merging the locking function with the clamping mechanism. This consolidation allows the reliability improvement to be achieved without adding significant external complexity, as the features are combined within the existing device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20220330964A1Locking forceps device

Publication Date: 2022.10.20 ECA MEDICAL INSTR

AI summary

Disclosed herein are forceps devices, for example, forceps devices for use in medical procedures such as those involving bone reduction. These forceps devices can comprise features that allow for locking or restricting the motion of the device, for example engagement features and corresponding and complementary opposing features. In some embodiments, the engagement features comprise teeth and the opposing features comprise indentations. In some embodiments, the engagement features comprise teeth, and the opposing features comprise teeth comprising a complementary opposing angle to the angle of the engagement features.