Endoscopic Forceps Selective Rotation Drive
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In electrosurgical procedures, the rotating assembly of endoscopic forceps can inadvertently rotate during tissue treatment, leading to ineffective thrombosis and tissue sealing due to unwanted movement of the shaft and jaw members.
Innovation Solution
A selectively engageable drive assembly that couples and uncouples the rotating assembly from the shaft, allowing controlled rotation in a predetermined direction, and disabling the rotating assembly when the jaw members are locked, preventing unintended rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the rotating assembly is enabled during tissue treatment, then the shaft can be rotated to position tissue between jaw members, but the shaft may inadvertently rotate causing ineffective thrombosis and tissue sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The drive assembly is designed to be selectively engageable and disengageable from the rotating assembly. During tissue positioning, the drive assembly engages the rotating assembly to enable controlled rotation. During tissue treatment, the drive assembly disengages to prevent inadvertent rotation, thus dynamically adapting the system state to the surgical phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a feedback mechanism where the state of the jaw members (clamped or unclamped) controls the engagement of the drive assembly with the rotating assembly. When jaw members are clamped, the feedback signal disengages the drive assembly, preventing rotation during critical tissue treatment.
2Reliability
If the rotating assembly is disabled during clamping, then inadvertent rotation is prevented, but the ability to rotate the shaft for positioning is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions between two operational states: during positioning, the drive assembly engages the rotating assembly to enable rotation; during clamping, the drive assembly disengages to disable rotation. This dynamic state change allows the system to provide rotation capability only when needed while preventing inadvertent rotation during treatment.
3Ease of operation
If the drive assembly continuously engages the rotating assembly, then the shaft remains rotatable for positioning, but the rotating assembly cannot be temporarily disabled to prevent inadvertent rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The drive assembly is designed with selective engagement capability, allowing it to transition between engaged and disengaged states. This enables the system to maintain continuous rotation capability when needed while providing the versatility to temporarily disable rotation during tissue treatment, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous availability and temporary disablement.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscopic forceps includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom for treating tissue. A longitudinal axis is defined through the shaft. An end effector assembly is operably coupled to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. A rotating assembly operably coupled to the shaft is configured to rotate the shaft and the end effector about the longitudinal axis. A drive assembly is configured to selectively and releasably engage the rotating assembly. Engagement of the rotating assembly with the drive assembly couples the rotating assembly to the shaft such that the shaft is rotatable about the longitudinal axis in a predetermined direction when the rotating assembly is rotated. And, disengagement of the rotating assembly from the drive assembly uncouples the rotating assembly from the shaft such that the shaft is non-rotatable about the longitudinal axis when the rotating assembly is rotated.