Double Biased Handle Latch for Surgical Forceps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical forceps require multiple manipulations to lock and unlock jaws, leading to inefficiencies during surgical procedures, as users need to regrip and manipulate jaws multiple times to secure and release them effectively.
Innovation Solution
A closure assembly incorporating a movement unit and a latch unit with pre-loaded biasing members, allowing for reliable locking, unlocking, and positioning of the jaws by utilizing bar biasing members and latch biasing members to maintain pre-loads in specific positions, ensuring consistent and efficient jaw operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a latch mechanism is added to lock the jaws together, then the forceps can be locked on a feature of interest, but the user must regrip and manipulate the jaws multiple times to lock and unlock them
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the relative movement between the first and second jaws. When the jaws move apart, the latch automatically locks; when the jaws move together, the latch automatically releases. This self-actuating mechanism eliminates the need for separate manual locking and unlocking operations, allowing the forceps to lock and unlock jaws with a single manipulation action.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism is pre-configured with biasing members (springs) that maintain the latch in a ready-to-engage position. The geometric relationship between the latch features and jaw movement paths is pre-designed so that the natural opening motion of the jaws automatically triggers the locking action, and the natural closing motion automatically triggers the unlocking action, eliminating the need for additional manual steps.
2Reliability
If the latch unit and movement unit are rigidly connected, then the locking mechanism is structurally simple, but the positive biasing required for reliable locking and unlocking cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The latch unit and movement unit are connected through movable connections that allow relative movement between them. This dynamic connection enables the biasing members (springs) to exert positive biasing forces on both units, ensuring reliable engagement and disengagement. The movable connection allows the latch to respond dynamically to jaw movements while maintaining the necessary biasing forces for reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure assembly is divided into separate functional units: a latch unit with hook latches and biasing members, and a movement unit with bars and biasing members. These units are connected through movable connections rather than rigid integration. This segmentation allows each unit to be independently biased and positioned, enabling reliable locking and unlocking while maintaining manageable structural complexity.
3Reliability
If multiple springs bias separate parts, then each part can be positively biased in home, locked, and unlocked positions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing members (springs) are designed to serve multiple functions: they bias the latch unit in its home position, provide the force for locking engagement, and enable the unlocking disengagement. Similarly, the bar biasing members bias the movement unit in its home position and provide the force for movement. This multi-functionality of the biasing members reduces the need for separate components for each function, managing device complexity while achieving reliable positioning.
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 solution enables precise and efficient control of the forceps' jaws, reducing the need for multiple manipulations and enhancing the reliability of locking and unlocking mechanisms, thereby improving surgical precision and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
one or more bar biasing members in communication with the movement unit and moving the one or more bars; one or more latch biasing members in communication with the one or more hook latches to selectively move the one or more hook latches
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical device comprising: a closure assembly including: (a) a movement unit configured to be connected to a movable member, the movement unit including: (i) one or more bars; (ii) one or more bar biasing members in communication with the movement unit and moving the one or more bars; (b) a latch unit configured to be connected to a ground member, the latch unit including: (i) one or more hook latches that selectively receive the one or more bars, and (ii) one or more latch biasing members in communication with the one or more hook latches to selectively move the one or more hook latches; wherein all or a portion of the latch unit is movable relative to the ground member and all or a portion of the movement unit is movable relative to the movable member, and the latch unit and the movement unit are movable relative to each other when the latch unit and the movement unit are in contact.