Laparoscopic Handle and Articulation Design for Surgeon Ergonomics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laparoscopic tools are poorly designed ergonomically, leading to surgeon fatigue, pain, and potential harm due to inadequate pressure points and sub-optimal handle designs, which complicate procedures and increase mental and physical stress.
Innovation Solution
An articulating rod system with connection rods that rotate in place, a gripping mechanism allowing force direction change, and an improved end effector assembly with enhanced opening and closing forces, designed to minimize trauma and improve usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional laparoscopic handle designs (shank, pistol, axial, and ring-handle) are used, then the tools can be inserted through small trocar ports, but they create painful pressure spots or cause extreme ulnar deviation leading to surgeon fatigue and harm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the handle with specific ergonomic features at critical contact points. The handle includes a pistol grip configuration with a trigger mechanism positioned to align with the surgeon's finger anatomy, and a thumb rest positioned to accommodate natural thumb placement. These localized design modifications ensure that pressure is distributed to anatomically appropriate areas of the hand that are designed to absorb impact, rather than creating painful pressure spots on inappropriate surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by designing the handle ergonomics around the surgeon's anatomy rather than forcing the surgeon to adapt to the tool. The pistol grip shape, trigger position, and overall handle contours are specifically engineered to match the natural curvature and pressure distribution of the human hand, effectively inverting the design philosophy from tool-centered to user-centered design.
2Productivity
If laparoscopic tools are made small to fit through trocar ports, then minimally invasive surgery is achieved, but the tools become difficult to use and require greater concentration and mental stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the laparoscopic tool into distinct functional modules: a small insertion shaft that fits through the trocar port, a separately optimized handle portion with ergonomic controls, and an end effector assembly. This modular segmentation allows the insertion portion to remain small for minimally invasive access while the handle portion can be designed with full ergonomic features including the pistol grip, trigger, and thumb rest, effectively decoupling the size constraints from the usability requirements.
3Ease of operation
If the control sphere and end effector assembly have a direct relationship, then control is straightforward, but the inverted relationship provides smoother procedural execution and enhanced functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary articulating rod system with multiple connection rods and rod guides that mediates between the control sphere and the end effector assembly. This intermediary mechanism includes a proximal articulation control member with a receiving annulus and a distal articulation control member, connected through multiple articulating connection rods. This intermediary system transforms the control inputs from the sphere into smooth, coordinated movements of the end effector, providing procedural execution smoothness while managing the inherent complexity through modular articulation mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A number of improvements to laparoscopic devices are described herein, primarily to improve the ergonomic functionality of the devices. For example, an articulating rod system is described, a gripping mechanism is described, and an end effector is described.