Endoscope Forceps Teeth Segmentation for Tissue Grip

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-frequency forceps used in endoscopes apply a large reaction force to tissues, causing them to slip off due to unsharp, thick teeth surfaces, which prevents reliable tissue holding.

Innovation Solution

The forceps surfaces feature a pair of teeth regions: a proximal region with unsharp, thick first teeth and a distal region with sharp, thinner second teeth, allowing the forceps to securely grip tissues by applying pressure through the ridgelines of the sharp teeth when closed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the forceps surfaces are formed with unsharp, thick teeth to ensure uniform contact width, then cauterization can be performed constantly with uniform width, but a large reaction force is applied to the tissue causing it to slip off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform cauterization widthVSAvoidtissue holding reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The forceps surface is segmented into multiple teeth rather than being a single continuous surface. This segmentation allows the teeth to individually engage with tissue irregularities while maintaining overall uniform contact width, resolving the contradiction between uniform cauterization and reliable tissue holding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each tooth is designed with a sharp tip (different from the uniform unsharp surface) to locally penetrate and grip tissue, while the overall forceps surface maintains uniform width for consistent cauterization. This local sharpness combined with global uniformity resolves the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the teeth top surfaces are formed to be unsharp and thick to maintain uniform contact, then consistent cauterization is achieved, but the reaction force becomes comparatively large causing tissue to slip

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform forceps surface structureVSAvoidreaction force on tissue
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the entire forceps surface unsharp and thick for uniform contact, the invention inverts the approach by making the teeth tips sharp while maintaining uniform overall surface width. This inversion allows the sharp tips to engage tissue effectively without generating excessive reaction forces, while still achieving uniform cauterization width.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If sharp teeth are used to grip tissue firmly, then tissue holding reliability improves, but uniform cauterization width becomes difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue holding reliabilityVSAvoiduniform cauterization width
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The forceps surface is divided into multiple discrete teeth that can individually adapt to tissue contours, providing reliable grip through sharp tips while the overall segmented structure maintains uniform contact width for consistent cauterization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The teeth are designed with sharp local tips for reliable tissue engagement, while the overall forceps surface maintains uniform width characteristics. This local sharpness with global uniformity simultaneously achieves both reliable tissue holding and uniform cauterization width.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration ensures that tissues are reliably held and less likely to slip, enabling effective cauterization and coagulation with a high-frequency current by maintaining tissue contact and applying consistent pressure.

Implementation Method 1

a large pressure is applied to the sandwiched subject tissue by ridgelines, and the subject tissue rarely slips from the teeth

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a treatment device for an endoscope which applies a high-frequency current... to apply a high-frequency current to a tissue held by a pair of forceps pieces to cauterize and coagulate the tissue

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2921120B1Treatment device for endoscope
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)
  • EP2921120B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2921120B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2921120B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A treatment device for an endoscope includes a pair of forceps pieces which has forceps surfaces in contact with a subject tissue and are opened and closed with the forceps surfaces facing each other. Concave portions are formed in the central portions of the forceps surfaces to form the forceps surfaces around the concave portions, and on the forceps surfaces, a first region on the proximal end side of the forceps pieces has a plurality of first teeth with top surfaces formed to be unsharp, and a second region on the distal end side of the forceps pieces to the first region has a plurality of second teeth with top surfaces formed to be sharp.