Electrosurgical Forceps Jaw Geometry and Pivot Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrosurgical forceps face challenges in balancing tissue treatment, division, and blunt dissection, requiring a design that optimizes mechanical and electrical features for effective tissue handling while maintaining precision and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates specific geometric ratios and configurations for the jaw members, including curved distal sections and pivot mechanisms, to facilitate tissue treatment, division, and dissection, with features such as a lockbox configuration and adjustable stiffness to enhance precision and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the jaw members are designed with specific geometric ratios and curved distal sections to facilitate tissue treatment and division, then surgical precision and efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw members incorporate curved distal sections with specific geometric ratios (width-to-length ratio of 1.45-1.70) to optimize tissue engagement and cutting performance. The curved configuration improves surgical precision by facilitating better tissue access and manipulation, while the standardized geometric parameters help control device complexity through repeatable manufacturing specifications.
2Ease of operation
If the pivot mechanism is designed to enable movement between spaced-apart and approximated positions for tissue manipulation, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot mechanism enables dynamic movement between spaced-apart and approximated positions, allowing the jaw members to transition between open and closed configurations. This dynamic capability improves ease of operation by providing flexible tissue manipulation, while the pivot's mechanical design maintains simplicity through straightforward rotational movement without complex actuation systems.
3Reliability
If the jaw members are designed with optimized geometric ratios for tissue treatment, then tissue treatment effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw members are designed with optimized geometric parameters, specifically a width-to-length ratio of 1.45-1.70 for the distal tip portion. These parameter optimizations improve tissue treatment effectiveness by enhancing tissue grasping and cutting performance. The standardized parameter ranges provide clear manufacturing specifications that balance treatment effectiveness with achievable manufacturing precision.
4Reliability
If the lockbox configuration is implemented to surround the pivot, then structural support and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lockbox configuration surrounds the pivot mechanism to provide structural support and protect against misalignment or damage. This protective design improves reliability by ensuring proper pivot function throughout the device lifecycle, while the enclosures are integrated into the overall device structure to minimize additional complexity.
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 precise tissue treatment, efficient division, and effective blunt dissection, while providing structural support and flexibility to maintain optimal jaw force and reduce cooling times after energy application, enhancing surgical precision and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
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
Data Source
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.