Sanitizable Sheet Surgical Forceps with Resilient Hinge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional surgical forceps used in minimally invasive surgery face challenges due to friction and wear from multiple moving parts, leading to precision and safety issues, as well as difficulties in manufacturing and sterilization.
Innovation Solution
The design features a sanitizable sheet with a resilient hinge that transitions between two elongate regions, allowing the forceps to open and close without separate mechanical parts, formed from a single continuous biocompatible material, enabling precise gripping and easy manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional forceps use multiple moving parts with sliding joints and rollers, then the forceps can achieve precise movement control, but friction and wear occur leading to deformation and reduced safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate moving parts into a single continuous sheet structure. The forceps jaws, hinges, and connecting elements are all formed from one piece of material, eliminating the need for separate components that slide or roll against each other. This merging eliminates friction-induced wear and deformation while maintaining precise control through the inherent flexibility and elasticity of the sheet material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical joint systems (sliding joints, rollers, ball bearings) with a flexible sheet structure that uses material elasticity and geometric design to achieve movement. Instead of mechanical hinges and connectors, the forceps use the natural flexing and folding of the sheet material to create the desired motion, eliminating friction and wear associated with mechanical contacts.
2Ease of operation
If traditional forceps use multiple small mechanical parts, then the forceps can achieve complex movement, but manufacturing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple small mechanical parts into a single continuous sheet structure. The forceps jaws, hinges, and connecting elements are all formed from one piece of material, eliminating the need for separate components that slide or roll against each other. This merging eliminates friction-induced wear and deformation while maintaining precise control through the inherent flexibility and elasticity of the sheet material.
3Measurement precision
If traditional forceps have multiple separate components, then the forceps can achieve precise control, but sterilization and sanitization become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate moving parts into a single continuous sheet structure. The forceps jaws, hinges, and connecting elements are all formed from one piece of material, eliminating the need for separate components that slide or roll against each other. This merging eliminates friction-induced wear and deformation while maintaining precise control through the inherent flexibility and elasticity of the sheet material.
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 enhances manufacturability, safety, and precision by minimizing wear and deformation, allowing for effective gripping of delicate tissues and organs while being easier to produce and sterilize.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient hinge can apply a spring force to the first elongate region and the second elongate region that biases the forceps in an open configuration
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical forceps for gripping internal organs during minimally invasive surgery are provided. The surgical forceps can be a sanitizable sheet in a folded configuration that includes a first elongate region which transitions to a resilient hinge which transitions to a second elongate region, all of which are formed of the same sheet. The first elongate region can further include a first grasper end opposite the resilient hinge and the second elongate region can include a second grasper end opposite the resilient hinge. The resilient hinge can apply a spring force to the first elongate region and the second elongate region that biases the forceps in an open configuration where the first grasper end and the second grasper end are distal from each other. When an external force is applied against the resilient hinge, the first grasper end can close against the second grasper end.