Insulative Jaw Insert for Electrosurgical Instrument
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrosurgical instruments face challenges in achieving a consistent mechanical advantage and maintaining an electrical insulative barrier between jaw members, which affects the efficiency of tissue sealing and electrical energy transmission during procedures.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a jaw insert made from an insulative medium within the jaw members, featuring cam slots and pivot pins to provide mechanical advantage and electrical insulation, along with a spring mechanism to enhance closure force and sealing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal components (cam slot, cam pin, pivot pin) are used to provide mechanical advantage and structural integrity, then mechanical efficiency and strength are improved, but electrical conductivity increases causing risk of electrical shorts between seal plates
Solution Approach 1:
An electrically insulative material is introduced as an intermediary component between the metal cam slot/cam pin/pivot pin and the seal plates. This insulative material acts as a mediator that allows mechanical force transmission while blocking electrical current, preventing electrical shorts between the conductive seal plates and metal components.
Solution Approach 2:
The jaw member is constructed using composite materials - specifically, an electrically insulative material is combined with or applied to the metal components (cam slot, cam pin, pivot pin). This composite structure maintains the mechanical strength and advantage of metal while adding electrical insulation properties to prevent harmful electrical conductivity.
2Reliability
If insulative material is added to electrically isolate components, then electrical safety is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insulative material is merged or integrated directly with the metal components (cam slot, cam pin, pivot pin) to form a unified structure. By combining the insulative and metallic functions into a single integrated component rather than separate parts, the overall device complexity is reduced while maintaining electrical insulation and mechanical functionality.
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 ensures a consistent and uniform tissue seal while preventing electrical shorts, improving the mechanical efficiency and safety of electrosurgical procedures by maintaining an insulative barrier between the seal plates and operative components.
Implementation Method 1
The jaw insert may be manufactured from an insulative medium to dielectrically isolate the first and second jaw members
Implementation Method 2
one or more types of springs, e.g., a compression spring, may operably couple to the handle assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members. A jaw insert is operably associated with the first and second jaw members. The jaw insert includes one or more cam slots defined therein configured to receive a cam pin that upon movement thereof rotates the first and second jaw members from an open position to a clamping position and an opening defined therein configured to securely house a pivot pin that provides a point of pivot for the first and second jaw members. The jaw insert is manufactured from an insulative medium to dielectrically isolate the first and second jaw members.