Jaw Assemblies With Insulative Stops For Uniform Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical devices face challenges in maintaining a consistent gap between jaws to avoid tissue damage and electrode contact, leading to unwanted burning or charring, and erosion of insulator material due to overcompression and lack of electrical isolation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating electrically insulative stops on the jaws to maintain a uniform gap and ensure electrical isolation, using beads or ceramic materials that protrude from the tissue engaging surface to prevent direct contact and regulate compression force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If compression force is increased to improve hemostasis, then hemostasis efficiency is improved, but tissue damage and insulator erosion occur
Solution Approach 1:
An electrically insulative stop is introduced as an intermediary element between the electrode-bearing jaw and the opposed jaw. This stop mediates the compression force, allowing sufficient compression for hemostasis while preventing direct contact between the electrode and the opposed jaw surface, thereby eliminating insulator erosion and tissue damage from overcompression.
2Productivity
If jaw compression is increased to reduce sealing time, then sealing speed is improved, but electrode contact with opposed jaw occurs causing insulator erosion
Solution Approach 1:
The electrically insulative stop serves as a protective intermediary that allows high compression forces to be applied for rapid sealing while preventing the electrode from contacting the opposed jaw surface. This eliminates the erosion of insulator material that would otherwise occur during high-speed sealing operations.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If uniform gap spacing is maintained to prevent tissue damage, then tissue safety is improved, but compression force distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The electrically insulative stop is strategically positioned at specific locations on the jaw where it bears against the opposed jaw surface. This localized placement creates a precise gap spacing in critical areas to prevent tissue damage and electrode contact, while allowing uniform force distribution across the broader tissue engagement surface through multiple stop positions.
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 effectively prevents tissue damage by maintaining a consistent gap and electrical isolation, reducing the risk of electrode contact and insulator erosion, ensuring precise and safe tissue sealing and transection.
Implementation Method 1
At least one of the jaws includes one or more electrically insulative stops associated with its tissue engaging surface, with the stops being configured to engage the opposed tissue engaging surface of the opposed jaw
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical access devices are provided having jaw assemblies that maintain a uniform spacing between the jaws and are electrically isolated from each other in a closed configuration. The devices provided for generally include one or more electrically insulative stops associated with a tissue engaging surface of one of the jaws, with the stops being configured to engage the tissue engaging surface of the opposed jaw. The stops set a uniform spacing between the jaws in the closed configuration, and provide electrical isolation. The stops can be disposed in intermediate, proximal, and/or distal portions of the jaw(s), and can be disposed at multiple locations of the jaw(s). The stops can come in many different forms and can be associated with jaws using a variety of techniques. Further, other embodiments, as well as methods for clamping tissue by providing a uniform gap between jaws during each closure stroke, are also provided.