Surgical Forceps Bifurcated Knife Sealing Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic electrosurgical forceps face challenges in effectively sealing and cutting larger blood vessels, often requiring conversion to open-surgical procedures, which compromises the benefits of minimally invasive techniques.
Innovation Solution
The design of forceps with a bifurcated knife assembly and movable jaw members allows for a scissor-cutting, dissecting, or sealing mode, enabling precise control over tissue cutting and sealing through the integration of electrosurgical energy and a knife mechanism that can be translated through knife channels, facilitating both sealing and cutting of tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard electrosurgical instruments are used for sealing larger vessels, then sealing capability is improved, but the ability to perform minimally invasive endoscopic surgery deteriorates due to instrument size constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The knife assembly is nested within the jaw members of the forceps, with the knife translating through knife channels defined within the jaw members. This nesting allows the cutting function to be integrated into the existing endoscopic forceps structure without increasing overall instrument size, enabling both sealing and cutting capabilities within the size constraints of minimally invasive surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The forceps are designed to perform multiple functions: sealing tissue through electrosurgical energy application and cutting tissue through the integrated knife mechanism. This multi-functionality allows a single instrument to handle both sealing of larger vessels and subsequent cutting, eliminating the need for separate instruments and maintaining minimally invasive access
2Adaptability or versatility
If a knife mechanism is added to the forceps for cutting tissue, then cutting capability is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The knife assembly is merged with the jaw members through the knife channels, creating an integrated structure where the knife translates through channels that are part of the jaw members themselves. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall structure compared to having entirely separate cutting and clamping mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The knife is divided into a bifurcated distal end with first and second cutting members that can be independently positioned within separate knife channels. This segmentation allows each cutting member to be guided through its own channel, simplifying the control mechanism while providing versatile cutting capability
3Manufacturing precision
If the knife is designed to translate through knife channels in the jaw members, then cutting precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The knife channels are defined within specific regions of the jaw members with precise geometries to guide the knife translation. This local quality approach concentrates the manufacturing precision requirements to specific features (the channels) rather than requiring high precision throughout the entire jaw member structure, making the overall manufacturing more feasible
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 enables efficient sealing and cutting of tissues, including larger vessels, within the confines of endoscopic procedures, maintaining the advantages of minimally invasive surgery by providing a versatile tool for surgeons to manage bleeding and dissect tissues effectively.
Implementation Method 1
Electrosurgical forceps utilize both mechanical clamping action and electrical energy to effect hemostasis by heating tissue and blood vessels to coagulate, cauterize and/or seal tissue
Implementation Method 2
the first and second cutting members are resiliently moveable between the spaced-apart and approximated positions
Data Source
AI summary
A forceps includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members moveable with respect to one another between an open position and a closed position. A knife channel having a body and a base is defined within each jaw member. A knife assembly includes a knife having a bifurcated distal end. The bifurcated end includes first and second cutting members each defining an opposed cutting surface and having a tab at a free end thereof for translation through the base of a knife channel. The knife is translatable into the channels when the jaw members are in the closed position such that the cutting members are approximated when translated through the channels. The knife is also translatable into the channels when the jaw members are in the open position such that the cutting members are flexed apart when translated through the jaw members.