Double Hook Ultrasonic Surgical Blade Fabrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic surgical blades, particularly curved and hooked blades, are difficult to manufacture and often require complex equipment, limiting their availability and effectiveness in medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A double hook curved blade design with concave hook portions on opposite sides, fabricated using simple lathe turning and end mills, allowing for varied edge angles and improved cutting and coagulating capabilities without the need for Z-axis milling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If curved and hooked blade designs are used to improve tissue manipulation and cutting effectiveness, then cutting performance and versatility are improved, but manufacturing complexity and difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The blade incorporates curved and hooked geometries with specific radii of curvature to improve tissue grasping and cutting performance while maintaining manufacturability through controlled curvature parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The blade is divided into distinct functional zones including hook portions, cutting edges, and transition areas, allowing each segment to be optimized for specific tissue manipulation tasks while simplifying the overall manufacturing process
2Ease of operation
If complex curved blade geometries are used to enhance surgical accessibility and visibility, then surgical effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements and equipment complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blade features controlled curvatures with specific radius ranges that provide surgical accessibility and visibility while being achievable through standard manufacturing processes without requiring ultra-precise equipment
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the blade have different geometric characteristics optimized for specific functions, with curvature and angle parameters varied locally to balance surgical performance with manufacturing feasibility
3Ease of manufacture
If single hook blade designs are used to simplify manufacturing compared to double hook designs, then ease of manufacture is improved, but tissue grasping effectiveness and cutting versatility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The blade includes multiple hook portions at different locations and orientations, creating distinct functional zones that can independently engage tissue from different directions, thereby enhancing grasping effectiveness and cutting versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The blade features asymmetric hook configurations with different curvature radii and orientations on opposite sides, allowing differential tissue engagement that improves grasping effectiveness for various tissue types and surgical scenarios
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 double hook curved blade simplifies fabrication while providing multiple cutting edges and enhanced tissue manipulation options, enabling effective cutting, coagulation, and dissection with improved accessibility and visibility during medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The transducer, often provided as part of, or housed within, a handpiece, is adapted to convert electrical energy (typically supplied by an external generator) into vibrational motion, typically longitudinal vibrations, at an ultrasonic frequency. In many instances, the transducer includes a 'Langevin stack' of piezoelectric disks for this purpose.
Implementation Method 2
When the ultrasonically vibrating blade is urged against tissue, such as by manipulation of a handpiece and/or by clamping tissue between the blade and a clamp member, the mechanical vibratory energy of the blade is transmitted to the tissue, not only cutting the tissue but also generating frictional heat and causing cavitation, coaptation and coagulation of the tissue.
Implementation Method 3
When the ultrasonically vibrating blade is urged against tissue, such as by manipulation of a handpiece and/or by clamping tissue between the blade and a clamp member, the mechanical vibratory energy of the blade is transmitted to the tissue, not only cutting the tissue but also generating frictional heat and causing cavitation, coaptation and coagulation of the tissue.
Implementation Method 4
While curved blades, when operatively connected to a longitudinally vibrating transducer (e.g., via an elongate waveguide) will generally vibrate in at least one non-longitudinal direction (e.g., transversely) due to the asymmetrical nature of the curved blade with respect to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide, such non-longitudinal vibrations in the blade during use can be advantageous. For example, some curved blades that vibrate in at least one non-longitudinal direction may provide greater blade displacement, particularly at the distal end of the blade.
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic surgical device including an elongate waveguide having a longitudinal axis and a distal end, and a blade extending away from the distal end of the waveguide, the blade including a curved portion that includes first and second opposed faces extending lengthwise along at least a portion of the length of the blade. Each of the first and second faces has a width that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide and a length that extends orthogonal to the width. A pair of hook portions are located on opposite sides of the blade. A method of fabricating an ultrasonic surgical device is also provided.