Surgical Forceps with Retractable Knife Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments require multiple tools for grasping, treating, and severing tissue, which can complicate endoscopic procedures and increase instrument exchange times.
Innovation Solution
A surgical forceps with a retractable knife assembly that allows for longitudinal translation between retracted, first extended, and second extended positions, facilitated by a trigger assembly and knife lock mechanism, enabling the instrument to grasp, treat, and sever tissue with a single tool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate instruments are used for grasping, treating, and severing tissue, then each function can be performed with a specialized tool, but the number of instruments increases and instrument exchange time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical forceps is designed as a multi-functional instrument capable of performing multiple surgical functions: grasping tissue with jaw members, treating tissue with electrosurgical energy through electrodes, and severing tissue with a retractable knife. This universal instrument eliminates the need to alternate between multiple specialized tools during surgical procedures
2Adaptability or versatility
If a knife assembly is integrated into the forceps, then a single instrument can perform multiple functions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The knife assembly incorporates a retractable mechanism with a trigger assembly that allows dynamic adjustment of the knife position. The knife can be extended to a first position for cutting tissue between the jaw members and to a second position for dissecting tissue layers, providing dynamic adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple fixed structure when retracted
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical forceps includes a knife bar having a knife translatable between a retracted position, a first extended position, and a second extended position. A trigger is operably coupled with the knife bar such that movement of the trigger between an un-actuated position, a first actuated position, and a second actuated position correspondingly moves the knife. An actuator is movable between locked and unlocked positions such that: with the trigger in the un-actuated or first actuated position and the actuator in the locked position, movement of the trigger to the second actuated position is inhibited; with the trigger in the second actuated position and the actuator in the locked position, the trigger is retained in the second actuated position; and with the actuator in the unlocked position, the trigger is movable between the un-actuated or first actuated position and the second actuated position.