High-frequency Treatment Tool Electrode Centering and Liquid Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing high-frequency treatment tools face challenges in manufacturing precision non-circular liquid feed openings and maintaining stable support for the electrode, leading to difficulties in aligning the center axes and ensuring smooth liquid feeding.
Innovation Solution
A high-frequency treatment tool design featuring an elongated cylindrical sheath with a retractable electrode member, a distal end member with a tapered inner surface, and a stopper portion that forms a channel for liquid distribution, ensuring the electrode remains centered and supported, allowing for stable liquid release without obstruction or vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a non-circular liquid feed opening is formed to expose the opening on the outer side of the distal end portion, then smooth liquid feeding is achieved, but manufacturing precision is compromised due to the complexity of precision working required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of forming a complex non-circular opening in the cap member, the invention inverts the approach by making the electrode member itself have a non-circular cross-section that fits within a circular opening. The non-circular shape is transferred from the electrode member to the liquid flow path, achieving the desired liquid feeding effect without precision working on the cap member.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a circular projection on the electrode member as an intermediary element. This projection fits into a recess in the cap member, serving as a positioning and support mechanism that simplifies the opening shape while ensuring proper alignment and liquid flow distribution.
2Ease of manufacture
If a circular liquid feed opening with wide bore is used to simplify manufacturing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but support for the electrode is lost and center axis alignment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating a non-circular cross-section only at the distal end portion of the electrode member where liquid feeding occurs, while maintaining a circular cross-section in the proximal portion where support is needed. The cap member also has localized features (circular recess) only where required for positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode member is segmented into different functional portions: a proximal portion with circular cross-section for stable support and alignment, and a distal end portion with non-circular cross-section for optimized liquid flow. The cap member is also segmented with a circular recess for positioning and a through-hole for liquid passage.
3Productivity
If the liquid feed opening is made wide to allow straight line liquid release, then liquid feeding efficiency is improved, but the electrode cannot be properly supported and aligned
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces asymmetry by making the distal end portion of the electrode member have a non-circular cross-section (e.g., oval or rectangular) while maintaining symmetry in the proximal portion. This asymmetric design at the distal end optimizes liquid flow patterns while the symmetric proximal portion ensures proper alignment through the circular opening.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a high-frequency treatment tool (1) that includes an elongated cylindrical sheath (2); a straight bar-shaped electrode member (3) to which high-frequency current is to be supplied, the electrode member being disposed so as to be advancable and retractable in the sheath in a longitudinal axis direction; a distal end member (6) that is disposed at a distal end side of the sheath (2) and has a through hole (6a) through which the electrode member (3) is passed; and a liquid feeding means (5) that is connected to a proximal end of the sheath (2). The electrode member (3) includes an electrode distal end portion (3b) being provided at a distal end of the electrode member and radially extending in a radially outward direction, and a stopper portion (7) disposed at a proximal end side with respect to the distal end member (6) and substantially having the shape of a solid of revolution. The distal end member (6) has a tapered inner surface (6b) that abuts against the stopper portion (7) in the longitudinal axis direction when the electrode member (3) is maximally moved toward the distal end, the tapered inner surface narrowing toward the distal end. A recessed portion (9) that constitutes a channel (2a) through which the liquid can be distributed in a state in which the tapered inner surface (6b) and the stopper portion (7) abut against each other is formed in the tapered inner surface (6b) or the stopper portion (7).