Laparoscopic Instrument Hinged Gripping and Rotational Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laparoscopic surgical instruments have limited degrees of freedom due to their single-plane operation, making them difficult to use during complex surgeries, and existing solutions are either overly complex or require excessive finger effort, with no known design that simplifies assembly and manufacturing while providing full 360° rotation and ergonomic handling.
Innovation Solution
A laparoscopic surgical instrument with a manual gripping portion featuring two hinged movable gripping members, a work tool with pivoting jaws, and an actuator mechanism using push rods and annular bodies for rotational movement, along with a guiding system allowing up to 110° angular movement and stop means for ergonomic handling and simplified manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a laparoscopic surgical instrument is designed with joining mechanisms to enable rotation in a second plane, then the degrees of freedom are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is divided into distinct functional modules: a gripping portion with three gripping members, a work tool with two jaws, and an actuator mechanism with push rods and annular bodies. Each module can be independently manufactured and assembled, reducing overall complexity while maintaining multiple degrees of freedom through the coordinated movement of these segmented parts
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument enables rotation in a second plane in addition to the first plane, achieving three-dimensional versatility. The push rods are configured to rotate relative to the annular bodies, allowing the work tool to be oriented in multiple planes simultaneously, thereby increasing adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the shaft joining jaw members is made rotatable for full 360° movement, then the freedom of movement is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to excessive finger effort during prolonged use
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator mechanism incorporates movable annular bodies that can rotate and translate along the shaft, dynamically adjusting the position and orientation of the push rods. This dynamic configuration allows the gripping members to be positioned optimally for each surgical task while reducing the finger effort required to maintain these positions during prolonged procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The annular bodies serve as intermediary elements between the gripping members and the work tool, mediating the transmission of movement. They provide a mechanical advantage that reduces the direct finger effort required to achieve and maintain the desired angular movements of the gripping members and work tool
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex joining mechanisms are used to link gripping members to jaw members, then the adaptability is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is segmented into distinct components (gripping members, annular bodies, push rods, jaws) that can be manufactured separately using standard fabrication processes. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing by allowing each component to be optimized independently and assembled through straightforward mechanical connections, while still achieving high adaptability through the coordinated movement of these modular parts
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating complex integrated mechanisms, the design inverts the approach by using simple, straightforward mechanical connections between standardized components. The push rods are simply hingedly coupled to the jaws and rotatably attached to the annular bodies, achieving adaptability through the combination of these simple elements rather than through complexity in individual components
Data Source
AI summary
A laparoscopic surgical instrument is provided with a manual gripping portion provided with three gripping members, one of them being fixed (non-movable) and the other two gripping members being movable and hinged such that each can perform an angular movement, facilitating the use of the tool during surgery.