Membrane Aggregating Forceps Tip Design for Retinal Surgery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Microsurgical procedures, such as ophthalmic surgeries, face challenges in separating tissues without causing trauma due to non-flat tissue surface geometries, particularly when dealing with convex surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A membrane aggregating forceps with a unique tip design featuring curved medial projections, sockets, fillets, and blunt edges, which allows for controlled separation and aggregation of tissues by compressing and decompressing an actuation structure to open and close the forceps, minimizing trauma during procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional forceps with flat or sharp edges are used to separate tissues on convex surfaces, then the separation can be performed, but the tissue surface geometry causes trauma such as shredding, tearing, or breaking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue separation capabilityVSAvoidtissue trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The forceps incorporate curved medial projections with sockets, fillets, and blunt edges instead of flat or sharp edges. The curved geometry conforms to convex tissue surfaces, distributing compression forces evenly and preventing tissue trauma during separation procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The forceps jaws feature localized curved medial projections with specific geometric features (sockets, fillets, blunt edges) at the contact points with tissue. This local modification of geometry allows the forceps to adapt to convex tissue surfaces while maintaining precise grasping control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Force

If compression force is applied to close the forceps to grasp tissue, then tissue separation can be achieved, but excessive or uneven force causes tissue damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrasping forceVSAvoidtissue trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The curved medial projections with blunt edges distribute compression forces evenly across the tissue surface, preventing localized stress concentrations that would cause shredding or tearing while maintaining effective grasping force

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The socket and fillet geometry inherently cushions the compression force by creating a conforming interface with the tissue. The curved surfaces and rounded features act as built-in cushions that prevent excessive point loads before damage can occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS10849640B2Membrane aggregating forceps

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 KATALYST SURGICAL LLC

AI summary

A membrane aggregating forceps may include a blank, a membrane aggregating forceps tip of the blank, a hypodermic tube, and an actuation structure. The blank may be disposed in the hypodermic tube and the actuation structure wherein a compression of the actuation structure is configured to close the membrane aggregating forceps tip and wherein a decompression of the actuation structure is configured to open the membrane aggregating forceps tip. The membrane aggregating forceps tip may include a first membrane aggregating forceps jaw having a first curved medial projection and a second membrane aggregating forceps jaw having a second curved medial projection. The first curved medial projection may include a first membrane socket, a first membrane aggregating fillet, and a first blunt edge. The second curved medial projection may include a second membrane socket, a second membrane aggregating filled, and a second blunt edge.