Partitioned Electrosurgical Forceps with Segmented Handle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusable electrosurgical forceps face challenges such as contamination, complex cleaning procedures, and arduous disassembly, which can lead to contamination risks and discourage use, due to the combination of mechanical and electrosurgical functions.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a reusable component and a disposable component that are selectively separable and engagable, featuring physical and electrical mating features to ensure secure and efficient connection, allowing the reusable component to provide electrosurgical energy while containing all mechanical motion within the disposable component, thereby managing cost per use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If electrosurgical forceps are made reusable to reduce instrumentation costs, then cost per procedure decreases, but contamination risk increases and cleaning complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrosurgical forceps are divided into reusable and disposable components. The disposable component includes the end effector with electrodes and mechanical actuator, while the reusable component contains the handle and control mechanisms. This segmentation allows the disposable portion to be discarded after single use, eliminating contamination risk, while the reusable portion can be sterilized and reused, reducing overall instrumentation costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue-contacting components (electrodes and mechanical actuator) are extracted as a separate disposable component that can be easily removed and discarded. This extraction eliminates the need for complex cleaning procedures while maintaining the ability to reuse the expensive handle assembly, thus reducing contamination risk without sacrificing cost-effectiveness.
2Loss of substance
If electrosurgical forceps are made reusable to reduce instrumentation costs, then cost per procedure decreases, but cleaning complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The forceps are segmented into reusable and disposable portions, where the disposable component contains all tissue-contacting elements. This segmentation simplifies the cleaning process to basic sterilization of the reusable handle, eliminating complex disassembly and reassembly procedures while maintaining cost-effectiveness through reuse of the expensive components.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex mechanical actuator and electrodes are extracted as a disposable unit that requires no cleaning. This extraction reduces the cleaning complexity to simple sterilization procedures for the reusable handle, making the instrument attractive for repeated use despite the initial higher cost of the disposable component.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If disposable components are used to eliminate contamination, then contamination risk decreases, but device complexity increases due to disassembly and reassembly procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The forceps are designed with clear segmentation between reusable and disposable components, with simple mechanical interfaces that enable easy separation. The disposable component can be quickly removed and replaced without complex procedures, reducing the barrier to reuse while maintaining contamination-free operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable component is designed as a self-contained unit that can be easily extracted and replaced. This simple extraction mechanism eliminates the need for complex disassembly and reassembly procedures, making the instrument user-friendly and encouraging repeated use despite the presence of disposable components.
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
This design reduces contamination risks, simplifies cleaning and disassembly, and encourages reuse by ensuring proper engagement for safe electrosurgical procedures, while maintaining cost-effectiveness and safety through proper engagement feedback mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical mating feature configured to transmit electrical energy between the disposable and reusable components when the disposable and reusable components are engaged
Implementation Method 2
The reusable component is configured for providing electrosurgical energy to the disposable component when engaged with the disposable component
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes a reusable component and a disposable component selectively separable from and engagable with the reusable component. The disposable component includes an end effector and a mechanical actuator operable to induce mechanical movement of the end effector. The reusable component is configured for providing electrosurgical energy to the disposable component when engaged with the disposable component. A physical mating feature is configured to maintain engagement between the reusable and disposable components when the reusable and disposable components are engaged, and an electrical mating feature is configured to transmit electrical energy between the disposable and reusable components when the disposable and reusable components are engaged. All mechanical motion resulting from operation of the mechanical actuator may be contained within the disposable component.