Electrosurgical Pivot Joint Seal for Cleanable Sterile Reprocessing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrosurgical instruments with pivotably supported branches face challenges in cleaning and sterilization due to gaps around the pivot joint, which can harbor contaminants and hinder effective sanitation and reprocessing.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a seal around the pivot pin, which is temperature-resistant and permeable to steam and ethylene oxide, ensures a sealing effect while maintaining a defined gap for cleaning accessibility, and includes distance elements for stability and friction bearing surfaces to facilitate pivotability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal is added around the pivot pin to prevent contaminant entry, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the cleaning accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible seal element is installed around the pivot pin to create an effective seal between the first and second branches. The flexible nature of the seal allows it to conform to the pivot pin and prevent contaminant entry while still permitting cleaning solutions to access the pivot joint area through its compliant structure.
2Reliability
If the branches are designed to be tightly closed to improve sealing, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the cleaning accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented from the structural closure of the branches. Instead of relying on tight closure of the entire branch assembly for sealing, a dedicated seal element is introduced that specifically addresses the pivot joint sealing requirement, allowing the branches to remain accessible for cleaning while maintaining effective sealing at the critical interface.
3Reliability
If a seal is added to the pivot joint, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A simple flexible seal element in the form of a ring or O-ring is used to provide the sealing function. This minimalistic approach adds only one additional component to the pivot joint assembly, avoiding complex sealing mechanisms while effectively preventing contaminant entry through the pivot joint interface.
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 solution enhances the sealing effectiveness, simplifies cleaning, and ensures reliable sterilization without compromising the instrument's functionality, while maintaining the structural integrity and accessibility of the pivot joint.
Implementation Method 1
the seal is elastically deformed in axial direction such that the seal is compressed between the branches. In doing so, a pressure force between the seal and the branches is created.
Implementation Method 2
The seal surrounds the pivot pin completely in circumferential direction about the pivot axis. By means of the seal, the pivot joint is sealed between the branches. Contaminants cannot enter between the branches into a gap surrounding the pivot pin
Implementation Method 3
The seal is particularly permeable for steam and ethylene oxide (ETO). In doing so, sterilization is not hindered by the seal.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrosurgical instrument (10) with two branches (11, 12) that are pivotably supported at each other by means of a pivot joint (13) is disclosed. The pivot joint (13) has a support pin (34) and a support cavity (37). The support pin (34) is particularly torque-proof connected with one of the branches (11) or (12) and rotatably supported in the support cavity (37) of the respective other branch (12) or (11). Between the branches (11, 12) a seal (45) is provided that sealingly abuts at the two branches (11, 12) and that surrounds the support pin (34) completely in the circumferential direction. Preferably, the support pin (34) is sealingly connected with the respective branch (11, 12) at its axial ends. In doing so, entering of contaminants in the area between the support pin (34) and the support cavity (37) from all sides or access possibilities is inhibited.