Medical Instrument Tool Head Rolling Surface Articulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical instruments for minimally invasive procedures are complex, expensive, and difficult to sterilize due to the large number of components that move relative to each other, making them unsuitable for single use.
Innovation Solution
A medical instrument with a tool head pivoted at the distal end of an elongated shaft, featuring a pair of jaws with convexly curved rolling surfaces that allow bending and independent pivoting, eliminating the need for multiple articulated sections by using a web-groove engagement system for control cables, reducing component complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple articulated segments are used to achieve high freedom of movement, then the degree of freedom of movement is improved, but the device complexity and number of moving components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple articulated segments into a single monoblock body, eliminating the need for multiple separate moving components while maintaining the degree of freedom of movement through integrated rolling surfaces that allow relative movement between tool head and shaft
2Ease of operation
If multiple moving components are used to achieve articulated movement, then the freedom of operation is improved, but the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tool head and shaft are designed as monoblock bodies with integrated rolling surfaces, eliminating the need for separate articulated segments and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining full freedom of operation through the rolling mechanism
3Adaptability or versatility
If numerous moving components are used for articulated segments, then the flexibility of the instrument is improved, but the sterilization difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple articulated segments into single monoblock bodies with integrated rolling surfaces, the patent reduces the number of separate components that require sterilization, making the instrument more suitable for single-use applications while maintaining flexibility
4Ease of operation
If control cables are guided using knots or fittings with pulleys, then the control mechanism is established, but the component variety and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates knots, fittings, and pulleys from the control cable guidance system, replacing them with a simplified rolling surface mechanism where control cables are guided directly by the geometry of the rolling surfaces themselves, reducing component variety and production costs
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
The instrument achieves a high degree of freedom of movement with fewer components, making it suitable for single use and simplifying sterilization, while maintaining a compact design and preventing control cable buckling or slipping.
Implementation Method 1
The tool head can be articulated in a defined manner relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft by a polar angle θ in an angular plane parallel to the longitudinal axis by means of at least two adjacent convexly curved rolling surfaces
Implementation Method 2
each define a substantially cylindrical or conical tool control cable surface on which at least one tool control cable section in the form of a helical section can be partially wound or unwound
Implementation Method 3
The web engages at least partially in the groove at every angular position (polar angle θ) of the tool head. This allows the tool head to be fixed perpendicular to the angular plane in a simple manner without additional components. The continuous web-groove engagement also prevents unwanted rotation of the rolling surfaces relative to each other outside the angular plane
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3e
Figure 4~5f
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an instrument (1) with a tool head (5) articulated to a distal end (2) of an elongated shaft (3) and a pair of jaws (7a,b) for shearing, pinching or gripping, wherein the pair of jaws (7a,b) comprises a first jaw (7a) and a second jaw (7b), wherein the tool head (5) is articulated relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft (3) by a polar angle (θ) in an angular plane (yz) parallel to the longitudinal axis by means of at least two adjacent convexly curved rolling surfaces (13, 15), wherein the first jaw (7a) and the second jaw (7b) are pivotable independently of each other relative to the tool head (5) in a tool plane (xz) substantially perpendicular to the angular plane (yz), and wherein the first jaw (7a) and the second jaw (7b) each have a substantially cylindrical shell or define conical tool control cable surface (29a,b),on which at least one tool control cable section (27a,b) in the form of a helical section can be partially wound up or unwound, wherein a first rolling surface (13) of the at least two rolling surfaces (13, 15) is divided into a first section and a second section by means of a web (17) extending in the angular plane (yz), and a second rolling surface (15) of the at least two rolling surfaces (13, 15) is divided into a first section and a second section by means of a groove (19) extending in the angular plane (yz), wherein the web (17) engages at least partially in the groove (19) at each angular position of the tool head (5), wherein the web (17) defines two angular control cable guides at its apex, wherein the angular control cable guides are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis.