Elastomeric Grip Integrating Spring for Surgical Instrument
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical instruments with metal springs are complex, difficult to clean, prone to damage or loss, and susceptible to corrosion, leading to increased costs and user confusion between operational and cleaning features.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument featuring a handle, a pivotally coupled clip, and an elastomeric grip with an integrally formed spring portion that biases the clip towards an engaged position, reducing the number of components and complexity, while the elastomeric material simplifies cleaning and provides a tactile ergonomic grip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal springs are used to bias the clip, then the spring provides reliable biasing force, but the instrument becomes complex and difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the spring component with the grip component, forming an integral elastomeric spring-grip assembly. This eliminates the need for separate metal springs and cleaning channels, reducing instrument complexity while maintaining the biasing function through the elastomeric material's inherent elasticity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional metal mechanical spring system with an elastomeric material that provides spring-like biasing forces. This substitution eliminates the need for complex metal spring mechanisms and associated cleaning requirements, achieving both simplicity and functional reliability
2Volume of moving object
If metal springs are used, then the spring can be compact, but the spring is prone to damage, loss, and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to elastomeric, which fundamentally alters the durability characteristics. The elastomeric material resists corrosion and damage while maintaining the necessary spring-like elastic properties for compact biasing within the surgical instrument
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses elastomeric material that combines the space-efficient compression characteristics of springs with the durability and corrosion resistance of polymer materials. This composite approach creates a spring-grip integral component that is both compact and highly durable
3Ease of manufacture
If cleaning channels are added for the springs, then the spring can be cleaned, but the instrument becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for separate cleaning channels by integrating the spring function directly into the grip component. The elastomeric spring-grip assembly has no separate cavities or channels requiring cleaning access, thereby removing the complexity of cleaning channel infrastructure entirely
4Force
If conventional springs are used, then the spring provides sufficient biasing force, but the spring is easy to damage or lose during cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the spring and grip into a single integral elastomeric component, eliminating the risk of spring loss during cleaning operations. The spring function is permanently embedded within the grip structure, ensuring retention while maintaining adequate biasing force through the elastomeric material properties
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 reduces instrument complexity, enhances cleaning ease, and provides a durable, corrosion-resistant mechanism that is less likely to be damaged, improving user interaction and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric spring portion integrally formed with the grip, the spring portion extending from the grip and arranged to bias relative movement between the handle and clip
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A surgical instrument comprising: a first component (104); a second component (102) coupled to the first component (104) and arranged to move relative to the first component (104); and a grip (114) secured to the second component (102). The grip (114) is arranged to be manipulated by a user to move the second component (102) relative to the first component (104); wherein the grip (114) is formed from an elastomeric material and the instrument further comprises an elastomeric spring portion (118) integrally formed with the grip (114), the spring portion (118) extending from the grip (114) and arranged to bias relative movement between the first and second components (102, 104).