Electrosurgical Forceps Disengagement Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrosurgical forceps require manual activation via buttons or foot pedals, which can disrupt hand coordination and procedure flow, and lack a seamless transition between electrical and non-electrical states, leading to inefficiencies and potential delays.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a selectively engageable activation system with a control unit, activation switch, and disengagement mechanism, allowing the forceps to automatically switch between electrical and non-electrical states by moving the working arms together, enabling a squeeze-to-activate bipolar or monopolar function through a shuttle mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual activation buttons are located on the hand piece, then the device can be activated, but the surgeon must change hand movements and adjust coordination which affects procedure flow
Solution Approach 1:
The device automatically activates electrosurgical function when the working arms are closed together, eliminating the need for manual button activation. The system serves itself by detecting the closed state of working arms and automatically sending therapy current to the electrodes, freeing the surgeon from coordinating hand movements for activation.
2Ease of operation
If foot pedals are used for activation, then manual hand coordination is maintained, but the surgeon must look away from the area of interest to identify the foot pedal
Solution Approach 1:
The device automatically activates when working arms are closed, eliminating the need for foot pedal activation. The system self-activates by detecting the mechanical closure of working arms, keeping visual attention focused on the surgical field without requiring the surgeon to locate or press external activation controls.
3Ease of operation
If devices are automatically activated when working arms are closed, then hand coordination is simplified, but there is no way of turning off the function when working arms are closed together
Solution Approach 1:
The activation mode is dynamically changeable through a selectively engageable system. A disengagement mechanism with a shuttle can shift the activation switch between engaged and disengaged positions, allowing dynamic switching between automatic activation mode and manual activation mode while maintaining ease of operation in whichever mode is selected.
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides multiple functions by combining automatic activation capability with manual activation capability in a single system. The activation switch can be selectively engaged or disengaged, allowing the same device to operate in either automatic mode (when engaged) or manual mode (when disengaged), enhancing adaptability without requiring separate instruments.
4Productivity
If the activation switch is always engaged for automatic activation, then procedure efficiency is improved, but the device cannot function as standard cold forceps when electrical function is no longer desired
Solution Approach 1:
The activation switch position is dynamically adjustable through the disengagement mechanism. The shuttle can be moved to engage or disengage the activation switch, allowing dynamic transformation between electrosurgical forceps state (when engaged) and standard cold forceps state (when disengaged), maintaining procedure efficiency in the electrosurgical mode while enabling standard forceps functionality when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrosurgical forceps comprising: (a.) a pair of working arms comprising; (i.) a first working arm and a second working arm, each of the first working arm and the second working arm having an inner surface; (ii.) one or more electrodes located on the inner surface of the first working arm, the second working arm, or both; and (b.) a selectively engageable activation system comprising; (i.) a control unit; (ii.) an activation switch; and (iii.) a disengagement mechanism; wherein the first working arm and the second working arm are laterally movable relative to each other so that the activation switch is actuated when the disengagement mechanism is in an engaged position by closing the first working arm and the second working arm together, sending a signal to the control unit, which in turn sends a therapy signal to the one or more electrodes; wherein when the disengagement mechanism is in a disengagement position and the working arms are closed, the therapy signal is prevented from being sent from the control unit to the one or more electrodes.