Insulated Forceps Electrode Prevents Current Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-frequency treatment instruments face inefficiencies due to electric current leakage from conductive materials when forceps pieces and operation wires touch tissues inside the body cavity during procedures, reducing the effectiveness of the treatment.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a pair of forceps members with a conductive electrode portion and an insulating portion to cover the electrode, ensuring the operation wire is electrically connected only at specific points, preventing current leakage from non-treatment areas by using insulating materials and configurations such as annular connections and penetrating holes to secure the wire and electrode connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the forceps pieces are made of conductive material to enable high-frequency current flow for treatment, then the treatment function is improved, but current leakage occurs when the forceps pieces touch tissues inside the body cavity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment functionVSAvoidcurrent leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The forceps member is divided into distinct functional zones: a conductive electrode portion for treatment and an insulating portion covering the proximal end. This segmentation allows the forceps to maintain conductivity where needed while preventing current leakage from the operation wire connection area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the forceps member have different electrical properties: the distal end electrode portion is conductive to deliver high-frequency current for tissue treatment, while the proximal end is covered with an insulating material to prevent current leakage. This local differentiation of electrical properties resolves the contradiction between treatment functionality and current leakage prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the operation wire is connected to the proximal end of the forceps pieces to enable current supply, then the electrical connection is improved, but the proximal ends project and touch tissues causing current leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidtissue contact causing current leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An insulating portion acts as an intermediary material between the conductive operation wire and the surrounding environment. This insulating portion covers the proximal end of the forceps member where the operation wire connects, allowing electrical connection to be maintained while preventing the operation wire from contacting tissues and causing current leakage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the entire forceps member is made of insulating material to prevent current leakage, then current leakage is prevented, but the forceps cannot deliver high-frequency current for treatment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent leakage preventionVSAvoidtreatment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The forceps member is segmented into a conductive electrode portion at the distal end for treatment and an insulating portion at the proximal end for current leakage prevention. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of both current leakage prevention and treatment capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The forceps member exhibits local quality differentiation where the distal end is conductive to deliver high-frequency current for tissue treatment while the proximal end is insulating to prevent current leakage. This localized property assignment resolves the contradiction between preventing current leakage and maintaining treatment capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 effectively prevents high-frequency electric current from leaking except at the intended treatment site, enhancing the efficiency and stability of procedures by ensuring current concentration on the treatment electrode.

Implementation Method 1

an insulating portion disposed so as to cover at least part of the electrode portion... the insulating portion covers a conductive outer surface of the forceps members... so as not to be exposed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

an operation wire having a distal end portion which is rotationally connected to proximal end portions of the forceps members and a proximal end portion which is electrically connected with the power source... supplied high-frequency electric current flows to the forceps pieces by passing through the operation wire

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

a distal end portion which is rotationally connected to proximal end portions of the forceps members

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Data Source

PatentEP2147650B1High-frequency treatment instrument
Publication Date: 2013.10.09 OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYST CORP
  • EP2147650B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2147650B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2147650B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A high-frequency treatment instrument that is used with high-frequency electric current supplied from a power source, which includes: a pair of forceps members connected with each other by a rotational axis; and an operation wire having a distal end portion which is rotationally connected to proximal end portions of the forceps members and a proximal end portion which is electrically connected with the power source, in which at least one of the pair of forceps members has a conductive electrode portion, and an insulating portion disposed so as to cover at least part of the electrode portion, the operation wire is electrically connected with the electrode portions, and a conductive outer surface of the forceps members, which includes a portion where the operation wire and the electrode portion are electrically connected, located closer to the proximal end portions of the forceps members than the rotational axis of the forceps members is covered by the insulating portion so as not to be exposed.