Pivotable Jaw Medical Device 360-Degree Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical forceps have limited jaw opening, restricting access and grasping capabilities in procedures requiring wider angular openings for tissue engagement.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with pivotable elongate arms and a drive gear system allowing the jaws to open up to 360°, enabling wider angular separation and independent rotation of the arms to facilitate greater tissue access and grasping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional hinged jaws with mechanical linkage are used, then the device structure is simple and reliable, but the jaw opening angle is limited to about 90°
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static hinged jaw mechanism into a dynamic gear-driven system. The elongate arms are pivotally connected to the housing at fixed pivot points, allowing them to rotate dynamically through a wide range of angles (0° to 360°). The drive gear engages with gear ends on the elongate arms, enabling controlled rotational movement that adapts the jaw opening angle to different procedural requirements, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional push/pull wire mechanical linkage system with a gear-based rotational mechanism. Instead of using wires that pull the jaws open and closed through a limited arc, the invention uses a drive gear that rotates to pivot the elongate arms through a full 360° range. This substitution enables greater angular freedom while maintaining mechanical reliability through positive gear engagement.
2Ease of operation
If the jaw opening angle is increased to 360°, then tissue access and grasping capability are improved, but the device complexity increases due to the gear system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the jaw mechanism into separate functional segments: the housing, the drive gear, two independent elongate arms with gear ends, and the jaw members. Each elongate arm can be independently controlled to rotate about its pivot point, allowing the operator to grasp tissue with enhanced dexterity. This segmentation enables complex grasping motions while keeping each individual component relatively simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive gear acts as an intermediary mechanism that translates rotational input into controlled pivoting motion of the elongate arms. The gear ends on the elongate arms serve as intermediaries that engage with the drive gear, converting the rotation of the drive gear into the desired angular movement of the jaws. This intermediary gear system enables precise control over the wide range of motion without requiring complex direct actuation mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mechanical linkage is used, then the device structure is compact, but the range of motion is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a linear push/pull motion in one dimension to rotational motion in a circular dimension. The elongate arms rotate about pivot points in a circular path, enabling the jaws to open to 360° instead of being constrained to a linear arc. This dimensional change from linear to rotational movement dramatically increases the range of motion while the gear system compactly accommodates this movement within the housing.
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 device provides enhanced access and grasping capabilities for target tissue, allowing for a larger range of motion and improved tissue capture compared to conventional medical devices, reducing the risk of tissue trauma during procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a drive gear, a first elongate arm (110), and a second elongate arm (120)... The first gear end is intermeshed with the drive gear. The second gear end is intermeshed with the drive gear.
Implementation Method 2
The first elongate arm and the second elongate arm are each pivotable about the first gear end and the second gear end, respectively... Each of the first elongate arm and the second elongate arm is pivotable between a first closed position and a second open position.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
A medical device with pivotable jaws and method of use thereof are disclosed. The device includes a pair of jaw members which are capable of being rotated independently of one another and spaced apart up to about 360°. Various gear arrangements are provided for enabling rotation of the jaws. The jaw members are disposed within a flexible slotted housing when advanced to a target tissue site, and thereafter rotated out of the housing a predetermined amount to contact target tissue.