High-frequency forceps shaft with nested hollow wire and composite layers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

High-frequency forceps with a shaft containing both a wire for moving forceps and a power supply cable face a dilemma where reducing the shaft diameter compromises internal space, and reducing the outer diameter without changing internal space results in insufficient strength due to thinner walls.

Innovation Solution

The cylindrical part is designed with an outer layer and inner layer made of glass fiber reinforced plastic, and an intermediate layer of carbon fiber reinforced plastic, which provides higher stiffness and insulation, allowing for a smaller diameter while maintaining strength, and includes a flange and protruding portion for enhanced current leakage prevention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the shaft diameter is reduced to make the forceps thinner, then the outer diameter of the forceps is reduced, but the internal space becomes smaller and cannot contain necessary components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveouter diameter of forcepsVSAvoidinternal space of shaft
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nesting by placing the power supply cable inside the manipulation wire's hollow structure. The manipulation wire has a hollow cross-section that accommodates the power supply cable, allowing both components to share the same spatial envelope. This enables the shaft to maintain sufficient internal space for both the manipulation wire and power supply cable while reducing the overall outer diameter of the forceps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a solid wire structure to a hollow wire structure with internal cavity. By changing the manipulation wire from solid to hollow cross-section, the design utilizes the internal dimension of the wire itself to accommodate the power supply cable, effectively adding functional space without increasing external dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If the outer diameter of the shaft is reduced without changing the internal space, then the wall thickness of the shaft must be reduced, but this results in insufficient strength of the shaft

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveouter diameter of shaftVSAvoidshaft strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite materials by combining the manipulation wire and power supply cable into an integrated assembly where the cable is housed within the wire's hollow structure. This composite arrangement optimizes the structural efficiency, allowing the shaft walls to be thinner while maintaining sufficient strength through the optimized distribution of structural and functional components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the structural parameter of the manipulation wire from solid to hollow cross-section. This parameter change increases the structural efficiency and allows for optimized wall thickness that maintains strength while reducing overall diameter. The hollow structure provides both mechanical strength and internal accommodation space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Volume of moving object

If the shaft contains both manipulation wire and power supply cable, then the shaft diameter increases, but reducing the diameter compromises the ability to contain both components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaft diameterVSAvoidinternal component arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nesting by placing the power supply cable inside the manipulation wire's hollow structure. The manipulation wire has a hollow cross-section that accommodates the power supply cable, allowing both components to share the same spatial envelope. This enables the shaft to maintain sufficient internal space for both the manipulation wire and power supply cable while reducing the overall outer diameter of the forceps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3995095B1High-frequency forceps
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 RIVERFIELD INC
  • EP3995095B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3995095B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C

AI summary

High-frequency forceps (10) are high-frequency forceps for medical use and include: a manipulation part (14) including a grasping portion (12) that is conductive; a cylindrical part (20) that is inflexible, through which a wire (16) for manipulation of the grasping portion (12) and a cable (18) for supplying current to the grasping portion (12) are guided; and an insulating part (22) that electrically insulates the manipulation part (14) from the cylindrical part (20). The cylindrical part (20) includes: an outer layer (20a) made of an insulating material; an inner layer (20b) made of an insulating material; and an intermediate layer (20c) located between the outer layer (20a) and the inner layer (20b), and having a lower insulation resistance and a higher stiffness than the outer layer (20a) and the inner layer (20b).