Electrosurgical Forceps Knife Deployment Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrosurgical forceps require additional steps for accurately severing treated tissue after coagulation or sealing, which can be cumbersome and may lead to inaccuracies during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
An electrosurgical forceps design featuring a pair of pivotably coupled shaft members, an end effector assembly, a knife, and a knife deployment mechanism with a distal extension that engages a flange to resist opening of the forceps, allowing the knife to be selectively translated between retracted and extended positions, ensuring secure tissue cutting within the closed configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate cutting instrument is used after electrosurgical treatment, then tissue severing can be performed, but the surgical procedure becomes cumbersome and accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electrosurgical treatment function and the cutting function into a single integrated forceps device. The end effector assembly includes both the treatment jaw members and a knife mechanism, allowing both coagulation/sealing and severing to be performed with one instrument, thereby eliminating the need for separate cutting instruments and improving surgical efficiency
2Ease of operation
If the forceps is allowed to open during knife deployment, then the knife can be extended, but accidental opening may occur compromising cutting precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a locking mechanism that prevents the forceps from opening during knife deployment. The distal extension of the linkage engages with the flange on the second shaft member, creating a mechanical lock that maintains the closed configuration of the end effector assembly throughout the knife extension process, thereby ensuring cutting accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The distal extension acts as an intermediary element between the knife deployment mechanism and the forceps shaft members. This intermediate component transmits the deployment force while simultaneously engaging the flange to prevent unwanted opening, mediating between the need for knife extension and the need to maintain closed configuration
3Ease of operation
If the knife remains retracted, then the forceps can be manipulated freely, but tissue cutting cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic knife deployment mechanism that allows the knife to transition between retracted and extended positions as needed. The linkage system with distal extension provides controlled movement of the knife while maintaining the ability to retract it, enabling the forceps to switch between manipulation mode and cutting mode efficiently
Data Source
AI summary
An electrosurgical forceps includes a pair of first and second shaft members pivotably coupled to one another, an end effector assembly coupled to the pair of first and second shaft members, a knife selectively translatable through the first shaft member and the end effector assembly, and a knife deployment mechanism. The second shaft member has a flange extending therefrom toward the first shaft member. The knife deployment mechanism includes a distal extension movably coupled to the first shaft member and configured to engage the flange of the second shaft member when the knife is an extended position and the end effector assembly is in a closed configuration. The engagement between the distal extension and the flange resists movement of the end effector assembly from the closed configuration.