Resilient Electrosurgical Forceps Jaws with Stiffening Spine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Forceps with rigid or inflexible jaws often require discontinuous joints for movement between open and closed positions, complicating manufacturing, increasing size, and restricting use in minimally invasive procedures, while forceps with resilient jaws face challenges in providing uniform gripping forces.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a jaw assembly with a stiffening spine and jaw shroud on flexible jaw elements, allowing for uniform gripping forces without discontinuous joints, enabling easy manufacturing and use in various procedures, including laparoscopic ones.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If rigid or inflexible jaws are used, then uniform gripping force can be applied, but discontinuous joints and complex mechanisms are required which increase manufacturing complexity and size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniform gripping forceVSAvoiddiscontinuous joint mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible resilient jaws made from elastomeric materials that can bend and flex to apply uniform gripping force without requiring discontinuous joints or complex mechanisms. The flexibility of the material itself enables the jaw to conform to the object shape while maintaining consistent force distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the jaw from rigid to resilient by using elastomeric materials. This parameter change allows the jaw to deform elastically under load, providing uniform gripping force through material properties rather than complex mechanical joints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If resilient or flexible jaws are used, then discontinuous joints and complex mechanisms can be eliminated, but uniform gripping force is difficult to achieve due to jaw deflection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoiduniform gripping force

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses flexible resilient jaws made from elastomeric materials that can bend and flex to apply uniform gripping force without requiring discontinuous joints or complex mechanisms. The flexibility of the material itself enables the jaw to conform to the object shape while maintaining consistent force distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite construction with elastomeric material combined with reinforcing elements (such as metal cores or internal structures) to maintain jaw rigidity where needed while preserving flexibility for uniform force application. This composite approach balances the conflicting requirements of simplicity and uniform gripping force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of operation

If discontinuous joints and complex mechanisms are used, then rigid jaws can move between open and closed positions, but manufacturing time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejaw movement capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates the discontinuous joint mechanism entirely, replacing it with a simple continuous structure where the resilient material's inherent flexibility enables jaw movement. This removal of complex components directly reduces manufacturing steps and time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution allows for cost-effective and quick manufacturing of forceps that can apply uniform gripping forces, facilitating both medical and non-medical procedures without the need for complex assemblies, while maintaining rigidity in the closed position.

Implementation Method 1

A stiffening spine, jaw shroud, or both is provided on one or both of the jaw elements, which may function to stiffen or reinforce the gripping section or portions of the jaw assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStructural reinforcement:

Implementation Method 2

The flexing section includes an arcuate section. The tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw element so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11478264B2Electrosurgical forceps with resilient jaws

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 GYRUS ACMI INC

AI summary

The teachings herein provide an instrument comprising a forceps. The forceps comprise a hand piece; a tubular member connected to the hand piece; and a jaw assembly connected to the hand piece. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw element and a second jaw element. The first jaw element includes a gripping section and a flexing section. The flexing section includes an arcuate section. The second jaw element opposes the first jaw element and includes a gripping section. The tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw element so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into a closed position. The first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both include a stiffening spine so that the jaw assembly is substantially rigid in the closed position.