Forceps Support Rotation Limit to Protect Grasping Wires

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Solution Overview

Problem

The durability of grasping-portion wires in forceps devices is compromised when the support is greatly turned about the first rotating shaft, leading to friction and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A turning restricting mechanism is introduced, comprising a stopper with a flat face that prevents the support from touching the grasping-portion wires, and the support is designed to turn only within a controlled angle range to avoid wire interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the support is greatly turned about the first rotating shaft, then the operating range of the forceps device is increased, but the durability of the grasping-portion wires is reduced due to friction against the support

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating rangeVSAvoidwire durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The turning restriction mechanism applies a counteracting force before the support can touch the grasping-portion wire. The flat surface of the base member or the stopper creates preliminary resistance that prevents the support from reaching a position where wire contact would occur, thereby eliminating friction damage before it can happen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The turning restriction mechanism acts as an intermediary element between the support and the grasping-portion wire. Instead of allowing direct contact between the support and wire, the mechanism intervenes to block the support's rotation, preventing harmful friction while maintaining the wire's integrity and extending its service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a turning restriction mechanism is added to prevent wire contact, then wire durability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire durabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The turning restriction mechanism is implemented locally at specific positions where friction prevention is needed, rather than redesigning the entire forceps device. The flat surface on the base member or the stopper is added only at the critical rotation limit position, providing targeted protection to the grasping-portion wires without complicating the overall device architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the rotational parameter of the support by introducing a physical barrier that limits the turning angle. This parameter change approach is simpler than redesigning the wire routing or support structure, as it only requires adding a blocking element that modifies the support's rotation range without affecting other functional parameters of the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4458287B1Forceps device
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 RIVERFIELD INC
  • EP4458287B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4458287B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4458287B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A forceps device (10) includes a grasping part (12a, 12b), a support (14) that holds the grasping part, a first rotating shaft (16) that turnably supports the support, a base member (18) that holds the first rotating shaft, grasping-portion wires (26, 28, 30, 32) that transmit driving forces to move the grasping part, a support wire (38) that transmits a driving force to turn the support about the first rotating shaft, and a turning restricting mechanism that restricts turning of the support so that the turning support does not touch the grasping-portion wires.