Forceps Motion Transfer Assembly for Compact Stable Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical devices, including forceps, face challenges such as increased packaging space, complex design and manufacturing, user experience issues, instability, and damage prevention.
Innovation Solution
The development of a medical device with a handpiece that includes an actuation system to control an end effector, featuring a drive shaft motion transfer assembly with a drive body, clip, spring, and rotational actuator, which enhances the device's functionality and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional forceps design is used, then the device structure is simple, but the packaging space is increased and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motion transfer assembly is nested within the drive shaft housing, with the drive body positioned inside the housing and the clip engaging with the drive shaft. The spring is positioned within the housing space, and the rotational actuator is integrated into the assembly. This nested configuration allows multiple components to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, significantly reducing the overall packaging space required while maintaining design simplicity through modular integration.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional forceps design is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the device lacks stability and is prone to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The forceps are divided into distinct functional segments: the drive shaft housing containing the motion transfer assembly, the blade assembly with its own housing, the jaw assembly, and the actuation system. Each segment can be manufactured separately using standardized processes, then assembled through defined interfaces. This segmentation improves device stability by isolating functional loads and reducing stress propagation, while maintaining manufacturing ease through modular production and simplified quality control of individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring component is pre-loaded and positioned between the drive body and the distal end of the drive shaft to provide beforehand cushioning. This spring mechanism absorbs and distributes mechanical stresses before they can cause damage to critical components, enhancing device stability and durability. The pre-loaded spring acts as a protective element that mitigates shock loads and prevents damage during normal operation and abnormal conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional actuation system is used, then the device is easier to operate, but the functionality and usability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The motion transfer assembly serves multiple functions: it converts rotational actuator movement into linear drive shaft movement, provides force multiplication through the lever arm mechanism, incorporates spring-based force limiting and return functionality, and enables both blade advancement and jaw actuation through a single integrated system. This multi-functionality enhances adaptability and versatility without compromising ease of operation, as all functions are activated through the single rotational actuator with intuitive motion patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive body acts as an intermediary component that translates rotational actuator input into linear drive shaft motion. The clip serves as an intermediary that transfers force from the drive shaft to the blade assembly. The spring acts as an intermediary that mediates force between the drive body and drive shaft, providing force limiting and return functionality. These intermediary elements enable complex functionality while maintaining simple operation through well-defined mechanical advantage relationships.
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 improved medical device reduces packaging space, simplifies design and manufacturing, enhances user experience, increases stability, and prevents damage to the forceps, thereby providing a more effective and reliable surgical tool.
Implementation Method 1
a spring positioned around the drive body between the distal spring seat and the proximal spring seat
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
Forceps including a frame and a motion transfer assembly to transfer forces from or more actuators to an end effector. The motion transfer assembly can include a body having a passageway, a drive shaft extending through the passageway, and a drive link. The body and the drive shaft slidable with respect to the frame, and the body rotationally fixed to the drive shaft to transfer a rotational input received from a first actuator into a rotational motion of the drive shaft relative to the frame. The drive link operably coupled to the frame and the body to transfer a force received from a second actuator into a linear motion of the body and the drive shaft relative to the frame.