Surgical Forceps with Nested Jaws for Phlebectomy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical forceps for phlebectomy require wide incisions and are not ergonomically designed, leading to inefficient vein extraction and multiple incisions, as they have a large radius of action that increases incision width and are difficult to maneuver.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a body with a hinge plate and elongated tubular sheath, movable operating branches, and jaws with toothed internal surfaces, allowing for a restricted tubular sheath section that reduces incision width and a mechanism to transmit movement from the operating arms to the jaws, enabling increased range of action without widening the incision, along with inclined rings for improved ergonomics and vein gripping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the radius of action of the pliers is increased to reach vein segments farther from the incision, then the distance between the branches increases, but the width of the incision required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the jaw mechanism inside the tubular sheath. The jaw is mounted at the distal end of the sheath and can move between open and gripping positions within the confined space of the sheath. This allows the forceps to reach distant vein segments through the long sheath while maintaining a small incision width determined by the sheath's limited section.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the contradiction by changing the dimensional arrangement: instead of increasing the lateral distance between branches (which would widen the incision), the operating arms are positioned with rings separated by at least 1 cm in a direction parallel to the sheath axis, allowing moment application along the length of the sheath rather than across its width.
2Area of stationary object
If the spacing of the branches when the clamp is open is reduced to minimize incision width, then the range of action is limited, but the ability to reach distant vein segments is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw mechanism is nested within the tubular sheath, allowing the forceps to achieve a long range of action through the length of the sheath (10-25 cm) while maintaining a small incision width determined by the sheath's cross-sectional dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The design shifts the moment application from a lateral dimension (which would require wide branch spacing) to a longitudinal dimension. The rings are spaced at least 1 cm apart along the sheath axis, enabling the practitioner to apply rotational moment by squeezing the rings together, which transmits force through the sheath to the jaw at its distal end.
3Device complexity
If the forceps design is simplified to reduce device complexity, then the ergonomic performance and gripping capability are reduced, but the ease of manipulation is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw mechanism is nested within the tubular sheath, with the jaw mounted at the distal end and capable of movement between open and gripping positions. This nested arrangement provides sophisticated gripping functionality while maintaining a compact overall structure that passes through a small incision.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating arms are configured with rings separated by at least 1 cm in a direction parallel to the sheath axis, allowing the practitioner to apply rotational moment by squeezing the rings together. This ergonomic design improves manipulation ease while the internal transmission mechanism maintains effective gripping capability.
4Ease of operation
If the tubular sheath section is increased to accommodate larger operating components, then the gripping capability is improved, but the incision width required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw mechanism is nested within the tubular sheath, with the jaw mounted at the distal end and capable of movement between open and gripping positions. This nested arrangement provides sophisticated gripping functionality while maintaining a compact overall structure that passes through a small incision.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to surgical forceps used for the extraction of varicose veins and having: - a body with an articulation plate (4) and an elongate tubular sheath (1); - two manoeuvring branches (2a, 2b) mounted on the articulation plate (4) and movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position, each of these branches (2a, 2b) having a ring (5a, 5b) for the introduction of a finger; - a gripper (3) mounted at the distal end of the tubular sheath (1) and having two jaws (7a, 7b) mounted movably relative to each other about an axis A between an open position and a gripping position, the inner faces of said jaws (7a, 7b) being toothed in order to hold the varicose veins; and - means for transmitting the movement of the manoeuvring branches (2a, 2b) to the jaws (7a, 7b), via the tubular sheath (1), said means being designed to move the jaws (7a, 7b) to their gripping position when the manoeuvring branches (2a, 2b) are closed together.