Surgical Forceps Modular Jaw Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical forceps, particularly those designed for single-use, face challenges in being cost-efficient while effectively performing mechanical clamping and energy-based tissue treatment tasks.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a shaft with opposed recesses and a drive bar with complementary recesses, an end effector assembly with pivot and cam mechanisms, and tissue-treating surfaces, allowing for precise jaw movement between spaced-apart and approximated positions, enabling effective tissue grasping and energy conduction for treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If surgical forceps are designed as disposable single-use instruments, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity and quality control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The forceps is divided into modular components including a shaft, end effector assembly with jaw members, pivot pin, and drive pin. Each component can be manufactured separately using standardized processes and then assembled, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining cost-effectiveness for single-use instruments
Solution Approach 2:
The end effector assembly incorporates both mechanical clamping functionality through the jaw members and energy-based tissue treatment capabilities through integrated tissue-treating surfaces. This multi-functionality is achieved within a single disposable unit, eliminating the need for separate instruments and improving cost-effectiveness
2Reliability
If surgical forceps incorporate energy-based tissue treatment capability, then treatment efficacy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical clamping function of the jaw members and the energy-based tissue treatment function are merged into a single integrated end effector assembly. The tissue-treating surfaces are incorporated directly onto the jaw members, allowing simultaneous mechanical grasping and energy delivery through a single instrument, thereby improving treatment efficacy without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The forceps is designed as a disposable single-use instrument that integrates both mechanical and energy-based treatment capabilities. This approach allows complex multi-functional features to be incorporated without the need for expensive sterilization and maintenance infrastructure, as each instrument is used once and then discarded, making the complex functionality more cost-effective
Data Source
AI summary
A forceps includes a shaft defining first opposed distal recesses, a drive bar slidably disposed within the shaft and defining second opposed distal recesses, and an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members. Each jaw member defines a proximal flange and a distal jaw body. The proximal flanges each define an aperture and a cam slot. A pivot pin extends through the apertures with ends of the pivot pin extending outwardly from the jaw members to be at least partially disposed within the first recesses and fixedly engaged therewith. A drive pin extends through the cam slots with ends of the drive pin extending outwardly from the jaw members to be at least partially disposed within the second recesses and fixedly engaged therewith such that translation of the drive bar relative to the end effector assembly pivots the jaw members between spaced-apart and approximated positions.