Steerable Electrosurgical Electrode with Segmented Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrosurgical electrodes are difficult to maneuver in minimally invasive surgery due to limited space, and existing steerable options lack sufficient rigidity and versatility.
Innovation Solution
A steerable electrosurgical electrode design featuring a handle, control element, multiple tubes, and an electrical transmission unit, allowing for adjustable positioning of the electrode through a rotatable control element with multiple positioning planes and a locking mechanism for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a straight type electrosurgical electrode is used, then the structure is simple, but it is difficult to manipulate the tip electrode to a desired site in limited surgical space
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode shaft is divided into multiple segments (first shaft portion, second shaft portion, third shaft portion) that can rotate relative to each other around a central wire. This segmentation allows the tip electrode to be maneuvered into difficult-to-reach areas while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode incorporates dynamic rotational joints between shaft portions, allowing the structure to change configuration from straight to bent as needed. This transforms a static straight electrode into a dynamic multi-position electrode, improving manipulability without requiring multiple separate electrodes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a pre-bending type electrosurgical electrode is used, then the tip electrode can reach certain sites, but it is limited to a certain situation and requires multiple electrodes for different angles
Solution Approach 1:
A single electrosurgical electrode is designed with multiple rotational degrees of freedom, enabling it to achieve various working positions and angles. This multi-functional design replaces the need for multiple pre-bending electrodes with different fixed angles, allowing one electrode to adapt to various surgical situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode employs dynamic rotational joints that allow continuous adjustment of bending angles, unlike fixed pre-bending electrodes. This enables the electrode to adapt to different surgical requirements dynamically, providing versatility without requiring multiple specialized electrodes.
3Ease of operation
If a gooseneck tube structure is used to make the surgical instrument steerable, then the instrument becomes flexible, but it has a large turning radius with relatively poor rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single gooseneck tube, the electrode divides the shaft into multiple rigid segments connected by rotational joints. Each segment maintains high rigidity, while the joints provide steerability. This segmented approach achieves flexibility through articulation rather than through flexible tubing.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode uses articulated rotational joints between straight shaft segments rather than a curved gooseneck tube. This creates curvature through the arrangement of rigid segments at angles to each other, maintaining rigidity within each segment while achieving overall flexibility through the articulated configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A steerable electrosurgical electrode is provided. The steerable electrosurgical electrode comprises a handle, a control element, a first tube, a second tube, a third tube, an electrode and an electrical transmission unit. The handle has a flat area therein, the control element has a plurality of positioning planes and pivotally connects to the handle such that one of the positioning planes rotatably abuts against the flat area, the first tube is positioned inside the second tube and pivotally connected to the control element, the third tube is connected to the second and the first tubes through a first and a second links, respectively, and the electrode is configured at the right end of the third tube. A user may manipulate the control element such that it abuts against the flat area at different positioning planes, to move the first tube inside the second tube, which in turns rotates the third tube and the electrode.