Rotatable Cable Connector for Electrosurgical Handpiece
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrosurgical handpieces are too long, making it difficult for surgeons to position the electrode accurately and comfortably, and the cable configuration often interferes with the surgical procedure.
Innovation Solution
A shorter electrosurgical handpiece design with a rotatable cable connector and circumferentially-spaced grooves on the nose piece for improved electrode positioning, combined with a reduced length and reconfigured collet for enhanced digital control, allowing for easier handling and reduced interference from the cable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the handle is made longer to accommodate circuit board and fingerswitches, then the control functionality is improved, but the overall length of the handpiece increases making it difficult to position the electrode accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The handpiece is divided into functional segments: the handle contains the circuit board and fingerswitches, while the nose piece is made detachable and rotatable. This segmentation allows the handle to maintain its control functionality while the nose piece can be independently positioned and oriented, effectively reducing the impact of handle length on electrode positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The nose piece is made rotatable relative to the handle, introducing dynamic adjustability. This allows the surgeon to rotate the nose piece (and attached electrode) to the desired orientation after attachment, compensating for the fixed handle length and enabling accurate electrode positioning despite the longer handle design.
2Reliability
If the cable is rigidly connected to the handle, then the electrical connection is stable, but the cable interferes with the surgeon's use of the handpiece
Solution Approach 1:
The cable connection is changed from rigid to rotatable, allowing the cable to rotate with the handle as the surgeon manipulates it. This dynamic connection maintains electrical continuity while accommodating the surgeon's movements, eliminating cable interference with handpiece operation.
3Ease of operation
If the nose piece is made rotatable with cable connector, then the cable interference is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation mechanism is merged with the existing detachable nose piece assembly. The rotatable connection integrates the cable connector, nose piece, and electrode holder into a single unified component that rotates as one unit, avoiding the need for separate complex rotation mechanisms and minimizing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrosurgical handpiece comprises a handle, a nose piece for threaded engagement with the handle at a first end for cooperating with a collet to grip an electrode, and a detachable cable connector at the opposite second end, the latter being characterized by a rotatable connection such that when the handle is rotated by the user, the cable will maintain its rotary position and thus not encumber rotation of the handle to a desired position. The electrosurgical handpiece may also comprise a nose piece with at least one set of circumferentially-spaced grooves, preferably two axially-spaced sets, which the surgeon can use with his fingers for one-handed orientation of the electrode position.