Separable Forceps with Cannula Chamber for Maxillofacial Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing forceps used in maxillofacial procedures lack effective designs for securely gripping cannulas and retracting soft tissue, particularly in confined spaces like the human mouth, which can lead to instability and limited visibility during drilling and fastening operations.
Innovation Solution
The design of forceps with pivotally connected elongated members featuring a cannula-receiving chamber with tapered inner surfaces and a tissue retracting surface, allowing for secure engagement and disassembly without tools, and a separable joint mechanism to facilitate easy assembly and disassembly for enhanced usability and sterilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the forceps use a traditional fixed joint design, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the forceps cannot be disassembled for sterilization and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The forceps are divided into separable components including a head portion, handle portion, and intermediate portion with a reversible joint mechanism. This segmentation allows the forceps to be disassembled for sterilization and storage, while maintaining structural integrity during use. The joint mechanism includes complementary features on opposing arms that enable tool-free assembly and disassembly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the forceps use a separable joint mechanism, then the forceps can be disassembled for sterilization and storage, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The joint mechanism is designed to be self-assembling and self-locking through complementary geometric features on the opposing arms. The reversible joint includes features such as tapered surfaces and engagement protrusions that automatically align and secure components when brought together, eliminating the need for tools or complex assembly procedures. The design leverages the natural mechanics of the components to achieve secure connection.
3Ease of operation
If the forceps use a wide tissue retracting surface, then soft tissue retraction is improved and visibility is enhanced, but the forceps become larger and more difficult to manipulate in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The forceps incorporate a wide tissue retracting surface specifically at the head portion where it is most needed for visibility and access, while maintaining a more compact handle and intermediate portions for ease of manipulation. The retracting surface is positioned to contact tissue at the surgical site without requiring the entire instrument to be large, thus providing localized functionality without compromising overall maneuverability.
4Reliability
If the forceps use a threaded cannula receiving chamber, then secure engagement of the cannula is achieved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula receiving chamber incorporates threaded surfaces with optimized parameters including pitch, depth, and diameter that balance secure engagement with manufacturability. The thread design is configured to provide sufficient holding force for cannula retention while remaining within standard manufacturing tolerances. The threaded portion is integrated into the head portion geometry to minimize additional manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A pair of forceps including first and second elongated members pivotally connected together. A handle and a head are defined at opposing ends of the first and second elongated members. In one preferred embodiment, a threaded cannula receiving chamber is disposed in the head, and the elongated members are separable via manipulation of the first and second elongated members with respect to each other.