Ophthalmic Forceps S-Shaped Neck for Uniform Pressure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ophthalmic forceps with gripping surfaces for surface contact face challenges in achieving uniform pressure distribution when closing, leading to potential opening of the tip-end-side portions due to slits, which affects the effective gripping of proliferative membranes near or separated from the retina.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a tubular body with S-shaped portions that include a first curved portion curving outward and a second curved portion curving inward, with the slit formation portions thicker than the neck portions, ensuring surface contact and reducing tip-end-side opening by maintaining pressure across the entirety of the gripping surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gripping surfaces are designed for surface contact to improve gripping force distribution, then gripping effectiveness is improved, but tip-end-side portions tend to open due to slits during closing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by designing the S-shaped configuration of the neck portions to preemptively counteract the opening tendency of the tip-end-side portions. The curved geometry creates internal elastic forces that resist the harmful opening effect before it fully develops during the closing action, thereby maintaining stable surface contact between the gripping surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curvature by forming the neck portions with an S-shaped configuration including first and second curved portions. This curved geometry transforms the rigid linear structure into a flexible form that can accommodate the closing motion while maintaining surface contact, preventing the tip-end-side portions from opening during operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If slits are provided on neck portions to enable surface contact and improve visual checking, then gripping surface contact is improved, but pressure distribution becomes non-uniform causing tip-end opening
Solution Approach 1:
The S-shaped curved portions distribute the closing pressure more uniformly along the length of the neck portions. The curvature allows the force to be transmitted gradually through the structure, preventing concentration of stress at the tip-end-side portions that would otherwise cause opening, while still maintaining the slits for visual inspection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the neck portions by introducing the S-shaped configuration with specific curved portions. This parameter change transforms the pressure distribution pattern from non-uniform (with tip-end opening) to more uniform, while preserving the functional benefits of the slits for alignment verification.
3Length of moving object
If the tubular body is made extremely thin to reduce size, then instrument profile is improved, but bending resistance decreases requiring reinforcing sleeves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively placing the reinforcing sleeve only at specific locations where bending resistance is needed, rather than making the entire tubular body thick. This allows the majority of the tubular body to remain thin for a small profile, while providing localized strength reinforcement where structurally necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite construction by combining the thin tubular body material with the reinforcing sleeve material. This composite structure achieves the dual objective of maintaining a thin overall profile for instrument accessibility while providing enhanced bending resistance through the reinforcing sleeve where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Ophthalmic forceps include: a tubular body; a pair of neck portions; a pair of slit formation portions provided on a tip end side of the neck portions; a pair of gripping portions provided on a tip end side of the slit formation portions; and substantially S-shaped portions formed at portions extending from the neck portions to the slit formation portions. When the tubular body slides to house an entirety of the neck portions in an inner cavity of the tubular body, gripping surfaces of the gripping portions are in surface contact with each other, and a slit is formed between the pair of slit formation portions.