Interface Joint With Rotatable Housing For Endoscope Cable Tangling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrosurgical interface joints face challenges in maneuverability and rotational control, particularly when integrating fluid and energy feeds into a single cable assembly for use with endoscopes, which can lead to tangling and interference issues.
Innovation Solution
A modified interface joint design that incorporates a housing with independently rotatable portions for fluid and electrical inlets, allowing for a single cable assembly to connect these inlets to an electrosurgical instrument, thereby enhancing maneuverability and reducing the risk of tangling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fluid and energy feeds are integrated into a single cable assembly for use with endoscopes, then the device can be used with narrow instrument channels, but tangling and interference issues occur reducing maneuverability and rotational control
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a first rotatable portion and a second portion that are independently rotatable relative to each other. The first portion includes a first inlet for fluid or electrical connection, while the second portion includes a second inlet for the other type of connection. This segmentation allows independent rotation of each portion, preventing tangling between fluid and energy feeds while maintaining integration within a single cable assembly that fits through endoscope channels.
2Device complexity
If a single cable assembly is used to integrate fluid and energy feeds, then device complexity is reduced, but rotational control and maneuverability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The housing incorporates dynamic rotational capability with the first portion being independently rotatable relative to the second portion. This dynamic design allows the cable assembly to adapt its configuration during use, enabling rotational control of the electrosurgical instrument while maintaining the simplified integrated structure of a single cable assembly containing both fluid and energy feeds.
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 solution improves the rotational control and maneuverability of electrosurgical instruments by allowing independent rotation of fluid and electrical feeds, reducing the risk of tangling and enhancing the stability and effectiveness of electrosurgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a coaxial cable that is connected to the electrical inlet
Implementation Method 2
a fluid channel that is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments provide an interface joint for interconnecting an electrosurgical generator, a fluid supply, and an electrosurgical instrument. The interface joint comprises a housing having: an electrical inlet for receiving radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) energy and/or microwave frequency EM energy from the electrosurgical generator; a fluid inlet for receiving fluid from the fluid supply; and, an outlet. The interface joint also comprises a single cable assembly for connecting the outlet to an instrument tip of the electrosurgical instrument. The single cable assembly comprises: a flexible shaft having: a coaxial cable that is connected to the electrical inlet; and a fluid channel that is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. The housing includes a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being attached to the single cable assembly such that rotation of the second portion effects rotation of the single cable assembly; and the first portion being rotatable relative to the second portion. The first portion includes a first inlet, and the second portion includes a second inlet, wherein the first inlet is one of the fluid inlet or electrical inlet, and the second inlet is the other of the fluid inlet or electrical inlet.