Surgical Forceps Jaw Position Indicator and Knife Interlock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical forceps face challenges in accurately severing tissue after forming a tissue seal, requiring precise control over clamping pressure, energy application, and gap distance, while ensuring safe and efficient energy supply and tissue cutting mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a housing with an end effector assembly featuring movable jaw members, an inner shaft, and a drive assembly that transitions between spaced-apart and approximated positions, along with energy actuators and a knife assembly, allowing for controlled tissue grasping, sealing, and cutting, with indicator systems for user feedback on position and energy status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If surgical forceps incorporate a knife or blade member to sever tissue after forming a tissue seal, then tissue cutting capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The knife member is integrated into the end effector assembly, merging the cutting function with the clamping and sealing functions. The knife is positioned within the jaw members and activated through the same actuator system that controls jaw movement, combining multiple surgical functions into a single integrated device.
Solution Approach 2:
The end effector assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: clamping tissue between jaw members, delivering energy for sealing through the jaw members, and cutting tissue with the integrated knife. This multi-functional design allows a single device to replace what would traditionally require separate instruments.
2Measurement precision
If indicator members are added to show jaw member position and energy actuator status, then user feedback and precision are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Indicator members are coupled to the jaw members and actuator to provide real-time visual feedback on their positions. The first indicator member shows jaw member position through a first window, and the second indicator member shows energy actuator status through a second window, allowing the operator to monitor system state without additional controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicators utilize visual color or position changes to communicate system state. Different positions of the indicator members correspond to different operational states (e.g., jaw open/closed, actuator retracted/extended), providing intuitive visual feedback to the operator.
3Reliability
If the inner shaft is positioned to interfere with the trigger assembly when jaw members are spaced apart, then accidental cutting is prevented, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner shaft is positioned to preemptively block the trigger assembly when jaw members are in the spaced-apart position, preventing accidental knife deployment. This preliminary blocking action occurs before any cutting could happen, ensuring safety. When jaw members are brought together, the inner shaft moves away, automatically clearing the block and enabling trigger actuation.
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 configuration enables precise tissue treatment and cutting, ensuring effective sealing and efficient severing while providing user feedback on jaw position and energy status, enhancing surgical precision and safety.
Implementation Method 1
when the jaw members are moved to the approximated position, the proximal flanges of the jaw members urge the inner shaft proximally to a proximal position
Data Source
AI summary
A forceps includes a housing defining a window and having an outer shaft extending therefrom. An end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the outer shaft includes first and second jaw members including distal portions and proximal portions and movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions. An inner shaft is slidably disposed within the outer shaft such that, when the jaw members are disposed in the spaced-apart position, the inner shaft is disposed in a distal position. When the jaw members are moved to the approximated position, the proximal portions urge the inner shaft to a proximal position. An indicator member coupled to the inner shaft includes first and second indicators. The first indicator is visible through the window when the inner shaft is disposed in the distal position. The second indicator is visible through the window when the inner shaft is disposed in the proximal position.