Grasping Treatment Unit Non-Uniform Heating Wire

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the small-bite method of treating living tissue using heat, the distal portions of the jaws only contact the target, leading to inefficient heat transfer and prolonged treatment times due to excessive heat release from the outer surfaces, causing temperature decrease in the distal portion and inefficient cutting.

Innovation Solution

A grasping treatment unit with a heating wire configuration where the path length and density of the heating wire are higher in the distal portion than the proximal portion, increasing calorific value only in the distal portion, ensuring efficient heat transfer and maintaining temperature for effective cutting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If heating elements are provided in the jaw for heat treatment, then the treated target can be treated by use of heat, but the distal portion temperature decreases due to excessive heat release from outer surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistal portion temperatureVSAvoidheat release from outer surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The heating wire is configured with non-uniform distribution where the path length and density are higher in the distal portion than in the proximal portion. This local differentiation compensates for the excessive heat release from outer surfaces at the distal end, maintaining optimal temperature for cutting while reducing unnecessary heating in the proximal portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the distal portions of the jaws only contact the target, then the treatment can be focused on the contact area, but the treatment time is prolonged due to temperature decrease in the distal portion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficiencyVSAvoidtreatment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The heating wire configuration with higher path length and density in the distal portion ensures sufficient heat generation at the contact area with the target. This maintains the temperature necessary for efficient cutting, thereby reducing treatment time while preserving the focused contact area approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If uniform heating wire distribution is used, then the structure is simple, but the calorific value is not sufficient in the distal portion for effective cutting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating wire configurationVSAvoidcalorific value in distal portion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The path length and density parameters of the heating wire are varied along its length, with higher values in the distal portion and lower values in the proximal portion. This parameter change optimizes the calorific value distribution to match the heat loss characteristics, ensuring effective cutting at the distal portion while avoiding excessive temperature increase in the proximal portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 configuration enhances the efficiency of cutting by maintaining the temperature of the distal portion, reducing treatment time and preventing excessive temperature increase in the proximal portion, thus improving the overall treatment process.

Implementation Method 1

heat generated in a heating portion (heating element)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3189805B1Grasping treatment unit, grasping treatment instrument, and grasping treatment system

Publication Date: 2019.07.10 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

Figure 1
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AI summary

A grasping treatment unit includes a first jaw, and a second jaw openable and closable relative to the first jaw. In the first jaw, a heating wire continues without branching from a first extending end to a second extending end, and heat is generated over an entire length from the first extending end to the second extending end when the electric current flows through the heating wire. In a heating portion, a calorific value per unit area is higher in a distal portion than in a proximal portion in the first jaw when the heat is generated from the heating wire. On a treatment surface of the first jaw, an amount of heat transfer from the heating portion is greater in the distal portion than in the proximal portion.