Misaligned Cam Pin Forceps for Stable Jaw Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Forceps devices experience jaw wobble due to clearance between the cam slot and pin, leading to instability during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a misaligned cam pin within the cam slots, where the pin contacts edges of the slots/flanges, reducing play and wobble by being askew or offset, thereby stabilizing the jaw movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cam pin is used to actuate the jaw, then the jaw can be opened and closed, but clearance between the cam pin and cam slot causes jaw wobble and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The cam pin is intentionally misaligned or offset from the centerline of the cam slot, creating an asymmetric configuration. This asymmetry causes the cam pin to contact specific edges of the cam slot during jaw actuation, reducing play and wobble while maintaining smooth opening and closing motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The clearance between the cam pin and cam slot is selectively reduced at specific locations through the misalignment configuration. The cam pin contacts only certain edges of the cam slot rather than being centered, creating localized contact points that eliminate wobble while preserving overall movement freedom.
2Adaptability or versatility
If clearance is provided between cam pin and cam slot for movement, then the jaw can pivot freely, but this clearance creates play and wobble
Solution Approach 1:
The cam pin is positioned asymmetrically relative to the cam slot centerline, creating intentional misalignment. This asymmetric arrangement allows the jaw to pivot freely through the cam slot while the offset position ensures contact with specific edges, eliminating play and improving precision without restricting movement freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam pin is pre-positioned at a specific offset location within the cam slot during manufacturing. This preliminary positioning ensures that during jaw actuation, the pin naturally contacts the appropriate edges of the slot, pre-establishing the correct geometric relationship to eliminate wobble before operation begins.
Data Source
AI summary
A forceps having at least a first jaw with a longitudinal axis is disclosed. The first jaw can include a body portion, a first flange, a second flange and a cam pin. The first flange can define a first cam slot with a longitudinal extent along the longitudinal axis. The second flange can be spaced from the first flange a distance transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first jaw and can have a second cam slot. The cam pin, with a longitudinal axis, can be moveably secured within the first cam slot and the second cam slot. A diameter of the cam pin can be less than a width between a first longitudinal edge that defines a first side of each of the first cam slot and the second cam slot and a second longitudinal edge that defines a second opposing side of each of the first cam slot and the second cam slot so that the cam pin is moveably received by both the first cam slot and the second cam slot. With the first jaw pivoted to at least a first position, the cam pin and first flange can be configured such that the first longitudinal edge is contacted by the cam pin but the second longitudinal edge is spaced from the cam pin. The cam pin and second flange can be configured such that the first longitudinal edge is spaced from the cam pin but the second longitudinal edge is contacted by the cam pin.