Flexible Jaw Endoscopic Forceps for Small Cannula Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic electrosurgical forceps designed for use with small cannulas face design challenges, particularly in achieving consistent tissue grasping and sealing due to the limited size and mechanical constraints of these instruments.
Innovation Solution
A bipolar forceps with a flexible jaw member and a fixed jaw member, where the flexible jaw member is pivotally coupled to the fixed jaw member via a drive assembly, allowing for precise movement from an open to a closed position to grasp tissue effectively, and the handle generates additional torque to maintain a predetermined closure force, enabling efficient tissue sealing and division.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If endoscopic forceps are designed for use with small cannulas (less than five millimeters), then the benefit of less scarring and reduced healing time is achieved, but design challenges arise in achieving consistent tissue grasping and sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw member is designed to be flexible rather than rigid, allowing it to dynamically adapt its shape during insertion and tissue grasping. The flexible jaw member can bend and conform to tissue contours while maintaining grasping force, resolving the contradiction between using small cannulas and achieving reliable tissue sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the jaw member from rigid to flexible, and incorporates a pre-curved configuration that can further deform under load. This parameter change allows the instrument to maintain effective tissue grasping and sealing capabilities despite the constraints of small cannula size.
2Measurement precision
If the flexible jaw member contacts the fixed jaw member at the distal end first, then precise tissue grasping is achieved, but the proximal portion must flex which requires additional mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible jaw member is designed to automatically flex and conform to the fixed jaw member through its inherent flexibility and pre-curved configuration. The material properties and geometric design enable self-adjustment without requiring additional actuators or complex control mechanisms, achieving precise tissue grasping while limiting mechanical complexity.
3Reliability
If the handle generates additional torque to maintain predetermined closure force, then consistent sealing pressure is achieved, but the drive assembly experiences increased mechanical load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the jaw member from rigid to flexible, allowing the flexible jaw member to deform and conform under load. This flexibility enables the system to maintain consistent sealing pressure through material deformation rather than requiring proportionally higher mechanical forces, thereby reducing the mechanical load on the drive assembly while ensuring reliable tissue closure.
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 bipolar forceps achieve consistent and uniform closure pressure, facilitating effective tissue sealing and division with precise control over the application of electrosurgical energy, suitable for various access port sizes, including those less than five millimeters, thereby overcoming the design challenges of small cannula instruments.
Implementation Method 1
the proximal portion is configured to flex toward the fixed jaw member when the distal end of the flexible jaw member contacts the fixed jaw member to grasp tissue between the jaw members
Implementation Method 2
Each of the flexible jaw member and the inflexible jaw member are adapted to connect to a source of electrical energy such that electrical energy can be conducted through tissue to effect a seal
Data Source
AI summary
A bipolar forceps includes an end effector assembly having a flexible jaw member and a fixed jaw member. The flexible jaw member has a flange operably coupled to the fixed jaw member about a pivot. A drive assembly is configured to pivot the flexible jaw member relative to the fixed jaw member from a first position and a second position. A handle is movable between an open position when the jaw members are disposed in the first position and a closed position to cause the drive assembly to rotate the flange about the pivot in a second direction to move the jaw members to the second position. A distal end of the flexible jaw member is configured to engage the fixed jaw member prior to a proximal portion of the flexible jaw member upon movement of the jaw members to the second position.