Forceps Drive Link Camming for Compact Stable Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional medical devices, including forceps, face challenges in reducing packaging space, simplifying design and manufacturing, enhancing user experience, improving stability, and preventing damage during use.

Innovation Solution

The development of a medical device with a handpiece that includes an actuation system allowing for the control of end effectors such as jaws and a blade, featuring a drive shaft motion transfer assembly with a force-limiting mechanism to prevent damage and improve user interaction, along with a rotational actuator for enhanced maneuverability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional forceps design is used, then manufacturing and design are complex, but packaging space is reduced and user experience is enhanced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign and manufacturing complexityVSAvoidpackaging space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The forceps is divided into modular components including a handpiece module, shaft module, and end effector module that can be manufactured separately and assembled. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing processes for each individual component while enabling compact packaging of the complete device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The end effector components are nested within the shaft housing when not in use, and the entire end effector assembly can be retracted into the handpiece. This nesting arrangement significantly reduces the packaging volume required for the forceps while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Device complexity

If conventional actuation systems are used, then device complexity is high, but stability and damage prevention are improved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuation system complexityVSAvoidstability and damage prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A motion transfer assembly with camming mechanism acts as an intermediary between the actuator and the end effector. This intermediate mechanism translates rotational actuator motion into controlled linear motion of the end effector, providing mechanical advantage and preventing excessive forces from damaging the actuator while reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The camming mechanism is designed with predetermined geometric profiles that inherently limit the maximum force transmitted to the actuator. This built-in mechanical constraint provides beforehand protection against damage by preventing force overload before it can occur during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Device complexity

If simple actuation mechanisms are used, then device complexity is reduced, but control precision and user experience are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuation system simplicityVSAvoiduser experience and control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The camming mechanism provides dynamic motion control where the mechanical advantage varies continuously throughout the actuation stroke. This dynamic characteristic allows a simple actuator to achieve precise control of the end effector by naturally providing higher force at critical points in the motion cycle while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution enhances the stability and usability of medical devices by reducing the risk of damage to the forceps, simplifying design and manufacturing, and improving user experience through efficient actuation and control of end effectors.

Implementation Method 1

a drive shaft motion transfer assembly with a force-limiting mechanism to prevent damage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce limiting: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

along with a rotational actuator for enhanced maneuverability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational actuation: Torque

Data Source

PatentUS12193694B2Forceps drive systems

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 GYRUS ACMI INC

AI summary

Medical devices for operating an end effector including a housing, a drive shaft, a drive body and a drive link. The drive shaft is moveable relative to the housing to actuate the end effector. The drive body is operably coupled to the drive shaft. The drive body includes a proximal collar and a distal collar. The drive link includes a proximal cam surface and distal cam surface, and the drive link is operatively coupled to the housing and actuatable to translate the drive shaft with respect to the housing. The proximal cam surface is configured to interface with the proximal collar when the drive link displaces proximally to translate the drive body in a proximal direction, and the distal cam surface is configured to interface with the distal collar when the drive link displaces distally to translate the drive shaft in a distal direction.