Electrosurgical Instrument Movable Electrode Socket Heat Sink
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Solution Overview
Problem
Miniaturized electrosurgical instruments with long, thin electrodes are prone to breakage due to their slender design, and existing designs do not effectively manage heat dissipation, leading to increased risk of electrode failure and tissue adhesion during use.
Innovation Solution
The design features a socket that can move linearly within the distal end piece, allowing the electrode to be kept as short as possible, with the socket serving as a heat sink to reduce heat-related issues and minimizing fluid pressure requirements for tissue injection, and utilizing laser welding for easy assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrode is made long and thin to minimize protrusion length, then the risk of breakage is reduced, but the aspect ratio increases making it more prone to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is divided into two segments: a protruding section that performs the cutting function and a retracted section housed within the socket. This segmentation allows the functional portion to be short while the total length provides structural support, reducing the aspect ratio of the exposed portion and minimizing breakage risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode is nested within the socket structure, with the socket acting as a protective housing. The socket extends through the narrowed section of the through-channel and provides structural support to the electrode, allowing the electrode to be shorter while maintaining strength through the nested configuration.
2Reliability
If the electrode is kept short to reduce breakage risk, then reliability improves, but heat dissipation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The socket acts as an intermediary heat sink between the electrode and the surrounding environment. It absorbs excess heat from the electrode during electrosurgical operations and dissipates it through its larger surface area and thermal mass, preventing heat-related damage to the electrode while allowing the electrode to remain short.
3Ease of manufacture
If the socket is positioned behind the distal end surface, then assembly is simplified, but the electrode protrusion length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The socket is designed to be movable along the axial direction within the distal end piece, allowing it to transition between a retracted position (for simplified assembly) and an extended position (for optimal electrode support and minimal protrusion). This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between assembly ease and protrusion minimization.
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
This design reduces the risk of electrode breakage, minimizes fluid pressure needed for tissue injection, and simplifies assembly while effectively managing heat to prevent material brittleness and tissue adhesion.
Implementation Method 1
the socket can serve as a heat sink for the electrode, which can become very hot during use. The heat capacity of the socket serves to cool the electrode
Implementation Method 2
A laser weld between the electrode and the socket can be used to secure the electrode
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The electrosurgical instrument (11) according to the invention has a base body designed as a tube (17) or as a hollow rod, on which an end piece (21) is formed or into which an end piece (21) is inserted. The end piece (21) has a through-channel (27) which has a narrowed section (29) at its distal end. The electrode (19) is held in a socket (31) which has a projection (36) that surrounds the electrode (19). The projection (36) is designed to extend through the narrowed section (29) of the through-channel (27) so that it emerges at the opening (30) of the narrowed section (29) when the electrode (19) is in the extended position. The electrode (19) is preferably welded to the extension (36) at this section of the extension (30) located at the opening.