Forceps Rotation Assembly Reducing Support Rod Strain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current forceps used in surgery, particularly during laparoscopic procedures, face challenges in simultaneous rotation and actuation of gripping and cutting functions, leading to strain on support rods and complex assembly requirements, which can divert the user's attention from the anatomical feature and complicate assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a stylet with a hollow tube and support rods, a hand piece with a bearing fitting and shuttle mechanism, and levers that allow for low friction rotation and longitudinal movement, enabling independent movement of the forceps relative to the hand piece and facilitating top-down assembly without repositioning of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the forceps are rotated by the user while performing surgical functions, then the cutting or gripping function can be performed, but strain occurs on the support rods of the stylet
Solution Approach 1:
The forceps are divided into separate functional modules: a rotatable cutting/gripping assembly and a stable hand piece, connected through a bearing fitting. This segmentation allows rotation to occur at the cutting assembly level rather than transmitting torque through the entire support rod structure, reducing strain on the support rods while maintaining rotational capability.
2Reliability
If intricate parts with precise placement requirements are used in the forceps assemblies, then the cutting or gripping function can be performed, but the assembly process becomes complex and requires preassembly and manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing fitting is pre-installed on the support rod before final assembly, establishing a fixed reference point that guides subsequent component placement. This preliminary action ensures precise positioning of intricate parts without requiring complex manipulation during assembly, as components can be sequentially installed along the defined assembly direction.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of assembling intricate parts from the distal end toward the proximal end (which would require manipulating already-installed components), the design allows assembly in a top-down manner from the proximal end, with the bearing fitting serving as the first installed component that guides all subsequent placements.
3Manufacturing precision
If the forceps require repositioning of already installed components during assembly, then intricate parts can be properly positioned, but the assembly time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing fitting is installed first as a preliminary step, creating a stable foundation and alignment reference that enables all subsequent components to be placed in a single pass without repositioning. This preliminary installation prevents the need for time-consuming adjustments and repositioning during the assembly process.
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 solution allows for efficient and precise surgical functions with reduced strain on support rods and simplified assembly, enabling the forceps to be assembled and used with improved ergonomic and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
allow for low friction rotation and longitudinal movement at the same time
Implementation Method 2
a shuttle in communication with the bearing fitting, the shuttle constrained by a plurality of guide ridges so that the shuttle is movable along a longitudinal axis and restricted from rotational movement around the longitudinal axis
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A forceps comprising: (a) a stylet having a distal end and a proximal end region, the stylet comprising; (i) a hollow tube having a proximal end region and a longitudinal axis; (ii) one or more assemblies that are extendable through the hollow tube, the one or more assemblies comprising; (1) one or more support rods having a distal end and a proximal end region; (2) one or more functional attachments at the distal end of the one or more support rods; (b) a hand piece comprising; (i) one or more housing structures defining a cavity that houses the proximal end region of the stylet; (ii) one or more actuating mechanisms in communication with the proximal end region of the stylet, the one or more actuating mechanisms comprising; (1) a bearing fitting located on the proximal end region of the stylet; (2) a shuttle in communication with the bearing fitting, the shuttle constrained by a plurality of guide ridges so that the shuttle is movable along a longitudinal axis and restricted from rotational movement around the longitudinal axis; (3) a socket housed by the shuttle, the socket receiving the bearing fitting so that the bearing fitting is rotatable relative to the shuttle; and (4) one or more levers in communication with stylet so that movement of the one or more levers causes movement of the hollow tube and movement of the one or more assemblies wherein the movement of the hollow tube and the movement of the one or more assemblies are relative to each other.