Elastomeric Actuator for Electrosurgical Forceps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrosurgical forceps face challenges in maintaining effective closure force and mechanical efficiency due to shaft bending or deformation, which leads to frictional losses and reduced operative life.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a split wire configuration with resilient ends that form a spring component, operably associated with the jaw members, to provide a consistent closure force and mechanical advantage, while a center link and cam mechanism facilitate movement and sealing of tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a drive rod is used to translate through the shaft to actuate jaw members, then mechanical force can be transmitted from the handle to the jaw members, but frictional losses increase when the shaft is bent or deformed, reducing closure force effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional drive rod mechanical system with an elastomeric actuator that uses elastic deformation to transmit force. The elastomeric actuator is disposed within the shaft and couples to the jaw members, eliminating the need for a drive rod that slides through the shaft. This substitution eliminates frictional losses associated with drive rod translation while maintaining force transmission capability, directly resolving the contradiction between force transmission and energy loss.
2Length of moving object
If the shaft is made small to accommodate catheter-based delivery and small jaw members, then the instrument can pass through small openings, but mechanical advantage at the jaw members is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material structures, particularly the elastomeric actuator which combines elastic materials with embedded reinforcement elements (such as fabric layers or fiber networks). This composite construction allows the actuator to generate sufficient force and mechanical advantage within a compact form factor that fits through small catheter openings, resolving the contradiction between small size and mechanical advantage.
3Device complexity
If a traditional drive rod system is used, then the structure is simple, but the operative life is reduced when the shaft bends due to frictional losses on the spring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the drive rod and associated friction-prone mechanical components with an elastomeric actuator system. This substitution eliminates the sliding interface between drive rod and shaft that causes frictional losses and spring degradation, thereby extending the operative life of the instrument. The elastomeric actuator's flexible nature allows it to accommodate shaft bending without generating friction, maintaining system reliability throughout the instrument's service life.
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
This configuration ensures a consistent, uniform tissue effect by maintaining closure force and mechanical efficiency even when the shaft is bent or deformed, thereby extending the operative life of the instrument.
Implementation Method 1
One or both of the two ends forms a spring component that is operably associated with one or both of the first and second jaw members and is configured to bias the jaw members in the open position
Implementation Method 2
The design incorporates a split wire configuration with resilient ends that form a spring component, operably associated with the jaw members, to provide a consistent closure force and mechanical advantage
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly is operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members that are movable relative to one another. A drive assembly operably couples to a handle assembly associated with the housing and is configured to impart movement of a respective jaw member when the handle assembly is actuated. A spring component operably associated with each of the jaw members is configured to provide a sealing force at the jaw members.