Electrosurgical Interface Joint with Push-Rod Reinforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrosurgical instruments face challenges in maintaining reliable operation and fluid delivery due to the susceptibility of push rods to damage and malfunction, particularly in narrow and elongated endoscopic procedures, which can lead to inefficient tissue cutting and bleeding during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
The interface joint incorporates a reinforced push rod and a flexible sleeve with a slide limiting mechanism, along with a housing that provides electrical insulation and fluid flow path, ensuring consistent operation and reduced damage to components, while allowing for efficient delivery of RF and microwave energy and fluid to the electrosurgical instrument.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard push rod is used in the interface joint, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of the push rod against damage and malfunction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a reinforcement element (such as a support tube or strengthening structure) coupled to the push rod in advance of potential damage. This reinforcement element is positioned within the housing to prevent bending and damage before it occurs, thereby improving push rod reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
2Reliability
If the push rod is made more robust to prevent damage, then the reliability improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to increased friction and difficulty in sliding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a support tube or reinforcement element that acts as a mediator between the push rod and the housing. This intermediary structure provides structural support to prevent push rod bending while maintaining smooth sliding motion through proper clearance design, thus resolving the contradiction between durability and ease of operation.
3Reliability
If the interface joint components are reinforced to prevent damage, then the reliability improves, but the manufacturing precision requirements worsen due to tighter tolerances needed for moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the reinforcement function into separate components (support tube, reinforcement element) that can be manufactured independently with standard tolerances and then assembled. This approach allows each component to be manufactured with relaxed precision requirements while the assembled structure provides the necessary overall strength and reliability.
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 enhances the reliability and control of electrosurgical instruments by reducing the risk of push rod damage, maintaining consistent fluid and energy delivery, and improving the precision of tissue cutting and coagulation, thereby minimizing bleeding and procedural complications.
Implementation Method 1
The coaxial cable is arranged to deliver either microwave or RF energy to the planar transmission line
Implementation Method 2
as an electric current passes through a tissue matrix (aided by the ionic contents of the cells and the intercellular electrolytes), the impedance to the flow of electrons across the tissue generates heat
Implementation Method 3
The method of cutting using RF energy operates using the principle that as an electric current passes through a tissue matrix
Implementation Method 4
The applied voltage then manifests itself as a voltage drop across this small void, which causes ionisation in the void that leads to a plasma
Data Source
AI summary
An interface joint for interconnecting an electrosurgical generator and an electrosurgical instrument, the interface joint comprising: a housing having: an inlet for receiving electromagnetic energy from the electrosurgical generator, and an outlet; a slidable trigger on the housing, the slidable trigger being attached to a push rod that extends out of the housing through the outlet; and a single cable assembly for connecting the outlet to the electrosurgical instrument, the single cable assembly comprising a flexible sleeve that conveys the push rod and a coaxial cable that is connected to the inlet. The interface joint may include a reinforcement element coupled to a first portion of the push rod so as to reinforce the first portion. Additionally or alternatively, the interface joint may include a slide limiting mechanism coupled to the push rod and configured to limit a maximum slide distance of an internal tube over the push rod.