Rotationally Locked Forceps Shafts for Compact Stable Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical devices, such as forceps, face challenges in reducing packaging space, simplifying design and manufacturing, improving user experience, increasing stability, and preventing damage during use.
Innovation Solution
The development of a medical device with a handpiece that includes an actuation system allowing for the control of end effectors to be rotatable, openable, closeable, extendable, and capable of supplying electromagnetic energy, featuring a drive shaft motion transfer assembly with a force-limiting spring and clip mechanism to prevent damage and enhance user control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional forceps design is used, then the structure is simple, but the packaging space cannot be reduced and stability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The drive shaft is rotatably received within the outer shaft, creating a nested configuration where the inner drive shaft can rotate independently within the outer shaft. This nesting reduces the overall packaging volume while maintaining structural stability through the concentric arrangement of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The forceps are divided into distinct functional segments: the outer shaft providing structural support, the drive shaft for actuation, the slider assembly for motion conversion, and the end effector for surgical function. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while reducing overall packaging space through compact integration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more features are added to the forceps, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector is designed with multi-functionality, capable of rotation, opening, closing, extending, and retracting through a unified actuation system. The slider assembly serves multiple purposes by converting rotational motion from the drive shaft into linear motion for actuating various end effector functions, reducing the need for separate mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the rotational drive shaft and the linear motion requirements of the end effector. This intermediate component simplifies the overall system by providing a single point of motion conversion rather than requiring direct complex linkages for each end effector function.
3Ease of operation
If the drive shaft is allowed to rotate freely, then ease of operation is improved, but rotational stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static connection to a dynamic rotational joint. The drive shaft is rotatably received within the outer shaft, allowing controlled rotation for actuation while maintaining structural stability through the defined rotational interface and engagement mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational motion of the drive shaft is copied and transmitted through the slider assembly to actuate the end effector. This motion copying mechanism ensures that rotational input from the operator is accurately translated into the desired linear motion of the end effector components while maintaining rotational stability through the guided interface.
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 enhances the stability and usability of medical devices by allowing precise control of end effectors while preventing damage during use, improving user experience and reducing packaging space through a compact and efficient design.
Implementation Method 1
a force-limiting spring and clip mechanism to prevent damage and enhance user control
Data Source
AI summary
Medical devices, such as forceps including a handpiece having a housing and an inner shaft that extends out of the handpiece along a longitudinal axis to transfer motion to an end effector. The inner shaft being rotatable with respect to the handpiece. An outer shaft that is rotatable with respect to the housing is boated around the inner shaft. The medical device further including an end effector coupled to the inner shaft and the outer shaft. The outer shaft rotationally constrained to the inner shaft at a first longitudinal location and at a second longitudinal location.