Dual Closing Guide for Surgical Forceps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical forceps with fine tips often cross or 'scissor' when force is applied unevenly, leading to tissue shearing and reduced accuracy due to existing guide pin designs that interfere with tactile feedback and can become deflected or catch, preventing proper closure.
Innovation Solution
A dual closing guide system comprising a slotted guide and a pin guide that engage sequentially to guide the tips to closure, providing precise alignment without interfering with tactile feedback, and allowing for 'forgiveness' of misalignment or bending in the forceps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a guide pin is incorporated into the forceps design to prevent tip crossing, then tip alignment is improved, but tactile feedback is degraded and the guide pin may become deflected or catch on the thru hole edge
Solution Approach 1:
The closing guide is divided into multiple segments: a first closing guide (slotted guide) and a second closing guide (pin guide), each engaging at different stages of the closing motion. This segmentation allows each guide to perform its function optimally without interfering with tactile feedback, as the slotted guide engages first to provide initial alignment while the pin guide engages later to provide final precision alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The slotted guide acts as an intermediary element between the operator's tactile input and the final tip alignment. It provides a gradual transition zone that allows the tips to align without the abrupt engagement of a traditional guide pin, thereby preserving tactile feedback while achieving precise alignment.
2Manufacturing precision
If a guide pin is used to prevent tip crossing, then tip alignment is improved, but the guide pin may catch on the thru hole edge preventing proper closure
Solution Approach 1:
The slotted guide engages in preliminary action during the early stages of closing, providing initial alignment and guiding the tips toward proper positioning. This preliminary alignment prevents the pin guide from catching on the thru hole edge during final engagement, ensuring smooth closure without abrupt stops.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual closing guide system provides dynamic guidance throughout the closing motion, with the slotted guide active during initial closure and the pin guide becoming active as closure progresses. This dynamic engagement ensures continuous guidance without abrupt interference, allowing smooth tip-to-tip contact.
3Measurement precision
If fine tips are used on long forceps for precise tissue grasping, then grasping precision is improved, but the tips may inadvertently cross or scissor when force is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The dual closing guide system provides continuous guidance throughout the entire closing motion, from initial engagement of the slotted guide to final engagement of the pin guide. This continuous alignment action maintains tip stability throughout the closing process, preventing scissoring even when fine tips are used on long forceps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the guidance parameters during closing: the slotted guide provides initial alignment with greater tolerance, while the pin guide provides final precision alignment with tighter constraints. This progressive parameter change maintains stability throughout the closing motion while achieving precise final alignment.
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-operated surgical instrument with sequentially engaged tip closing guides. The instrument includes first and second arms having tips that close during a closure operation. A slotted tip closure guide on the arms engages first during the closure operation. A pin closure guide on the arms between the slotted closure guide and the tips engages during the closure operation after the engagement of the slotted closure guide. The sequential engagement of the guides provides precise approximation of the instrument tips and prevents “scissoring” of the tips.