Treatment Tool Gripper Force Adjustment Through Elastic Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatment tools lack an efficient mechanism to adjust the gripping force of grippers in a treatment tool, which is crucial for effective application of energy to living tissue.
Innovation Solution
A treatment tool with a pair of grippers that can be opened and closed via a transmission portion, an operating portion, an elastic body, and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the gripping force by varying the compressive deformation of the elastic body, using a contact portion and tables that adjust the position of the contact with the elastic body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an elastic body is used to transmit operating force to the transmission portion, then the gripping force can be adjusted by compressive deformation, but the structure becomes more complex due to the addition of adjustment mechanism components
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: a first adjustment member that directly contacts the elastic body to adjust its compressive deformation, and a second adjustment member that contacts the transmission portion to adjust its position. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of gripping force and transmission position without interfering with each other, resolving the complexity issue while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body serves as an intermediary element between the operating portion and the transmission portion. By adjusting the compressive deformation of this intermediary elastic body through the first adjustment member, the gripping force can be controlled without directly modifying the transmission mechanism, thereby simplifying the overall adjustment process while maintaining operational ease.
2Manufacturing precision
If the contact portion position is adjusted to change elastic body deformation, then gripping force control is achieved, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first adjustment member is designed with multi-functionality: it serves both as a positioning element that contacts the elastic body to control its compressive deformation, and as an adjustment mechanism that can be integrated into the existing structure. This universal component approach achieves precise gripping force control without proportionally increasing the total number of components, as the adjustment member performs multiple functions within a single element.
3Manufacturing precision
If tables are added to contact the contact portion and adjust its position, then elastic body compression is controlled, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tables are designed to be nested within or integrated into the existing adjustment mechanism structure. The first adjustment member can accommodate or guide the tables in a nested arrangement, allowing the tables to perform their position-adjusting function while being housed within the existing structural framework. This nesting approach achieves precise contact portion positioning without significantly increasing assembly complexity, as the components are integrated rather than added as separate external elements.
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
Enables precise control of the gripping force, ensuring consistent and effective application of ultrasonic and high-frequency energy to the target region, enhancing treatment efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic body configured to transmit, to the transmission portion, an operating force applied to the operating portion by the user operation while being compressively deformed in accordance with the operating force
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment tool includes: a pair of grippers configured to grip living tissue, at least one of the pair of grippers being configured in an openable and closable manner; a transmission portion connected to the at least one of the pair of grippers, the transmission portion being configured to move forward and backward along a first direction to open and close the pair of grippers; an operating portion configured to receive user operation for gripping the living tissue; an elastic body configured to transmit, to the transmission portion, an operating force applied to the operating portion by the user operation while being compressively deformed in accordance with the operating force; and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust an amount of compressive deformation of the elastic body when the user operation is performed on the operating portion, to thereby adjust a gripping force of the pair of grippers.