Electrosurgical Forceps With Deployable Knife for Precise Tissue Division
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrosurgical forceps face challenges in balancing tissue treatment, division, and blunt dissection, requiring a design that effectively combines mechanical and electrical features for precise surgical procedures while ensuring ease of use and minimizing tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a forceps with pivotably coupled shaft members, a knife deployment mechanism, and a switch assembly that allows for selective deployment of a knife and supply of electrosurgical energy, featuring a pivot member, knife lockout, and a low-profile trigger mechanism to facilitate precise tissue manipulation and dissection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a knife is incorporated into electrosurgical forceps for tissue division, then tissue division capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The knife is integrated within the jaw member structure, merging the cutting function with the existing forceps body. The knife deployment mechanism utilizes the pivot member and linkage system already present in the forceps, combining multiple functions (grasping, cutting, electrosurgical treatment) into a single integrated device rather than separate instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The forceps device achieves multi-functionality by incorporating electrosurgical electrodes for tissue treatment, a deployable knife for tissue division, and a pivot mechanism for jaw movement. A single device performs multiple surgical tasks that would traditionally require separate instruments, improving versatility while managing complexity through integrated design.
2Manufacturing precision
If a knife deployment mechanism is added to electrosurgical forceps, then tissue division precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The knife is pre-positioned within the jaw member in a retracted state, ready for deployment but not interfering with initial tissue grasping. The lockout mechanism is pre-configured to prevent accidental deployment, ensuring the knife only deploys when intentionally activated by the surgeon through the trigger mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
A trigger mechanism serves as an intermediary control element between the surgeon's action and the knife deployment. The trigger activates a linkage system that smoothly transitions the knife from retracted to deployed position, providing controlled and precise deployment while maintaining simple operation through an intuitive trigger pull action.
3Reliability
If electrosurgical energy supply is integrated into forceps, then tissue treatment effectiveness is improved, but object-generated harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electrosurgical electrodes are positioned specifically at the jaw tips where tissue contact occurs, concentrating the electrosurgical energy application to the precise location needed for treatment. This localized energy delivery improves treatment effectiveness while minimizing exposure of surrounding healthy tissue to harmful thermal effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrosurgical energy provides a non-mechanical method for tissue treatment, replacing or supplementing purely mechanical cutting or coagulation methods. This allows for precise thermal control of tissue sealing and coagulation without the mechanical trauma associated with traditional surgical instruments, reducing harmful mechanical damage while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
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 enables efficient tissue treatment, division, and blunt dissection with improved precision and reduced tissue damage, providing a balanced approach to mechanical and electrical functionality for enhanced surgical performance.
Implementation Method 1
Electrosurgical forceps utilize both mechanical clamping action and electrical energy to treat tissue, e.g., coagulate, cauterize, and/or seal tissue
Data Source
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AI summary
An electrosurgical forceps includes first and second shaft members and first and second jaw members extending distally from the respective first and second shaft members. A pivot couples the first and second shaft members with one another such that the first and second shaft members are movable relative to one another between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position to move the first and second jaw members relative to one another between an open position and a closed position. The jaw members are configured to facilitate tissue treatment, tissue division, and blunt tissue dissection.