Surgical Gripper Toggle Lever for Overload Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments face the challenge of breaking due to excessive manual force applied at small opening angles, particularly when gripping or cutting small tissue pieces, as existing overload protection devices provide insufficient force transmission.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a toggle lever mechanism and spring element that biases the transmission element in the closure direction, ensuring adequate force transmission even at small opening angles, using a toggle lever mechanism to distribute force uniformly and reduce the risk of overload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring element is used as overload protection device, then the tool head is protected from overload, but the force transmission is insufficient at small opening angles
Solution Approach 1:
A toggle lever mechanism is introduced as an intermediary component between the spring element and the transmission element. This mediator transforms the spring force into effective biasing force that is transmitted to the transmission element, enabling sufficient force transmission at small opening angles while maintaining overload protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the spring element by introducing the toggle lever mechanism that modifies how the spring force is applied. The mechanism transforms the spring's linear compression into rotational motion, creating a non-linear force transmission characteristic that provides high force at small opening angles while limiting maximum force to protect the tool head.
2Force
If the spring force is increased to improve force transmission, then small tissue pieces can be gripped effectively, but the risk of tool head breakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The toggle lever mechanism provides a mechanical feedback system that automatically regulates force transmission. As the opening angle decreases and gripping force increases, the mechanism naturally limits the transmission of excessive force to the tool head, preventing breakage while maintaining sufficient gripping force for small tissue pieces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic characteristics to the overload protection device through the toggle lever mechanism. The system transitions from a static spring compression model to a dynamic mechanism that adapts force transmission based on the opening angle and tissue resistance, providing optimal force at small angles while preventing overload at larger angles.
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
The instrument effectively grips and cuts small tissue pieces without breaking, while maintaining sufficient force transmission for larger pieces, ensuring the tool head is protected from overload.
Implementation Method 1
an overload protection device with a spring element for limiting the manual force which is transmitted onto the first tool part in the closure direction
Implementation Method 2
an overload protection device with a spring element for limiting the manual force which is transmitted onto the first tool part in the closure direction, wherein the overload protection device comprises a toggle lever mechanism, via which the spring element biases the transmission element in the closure direction
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument is for gripping tissue within a body, and includes an actuation device with one grip part movably mounted relative to another in an opening and closure direction and a tool head with two tool parts. One tool part is movable relative to the other along an opening and closure direction. A shank extends between the actuation device and the tool head, with proximal end connected or connectable to the actuation device and distal end connected or connectable to the tool head. The shank includes a transmission axially movable in the opening and closure direction to transmit force from the first grip to the first tool. An overload protection device includes a spring element limiting force transmitted onto the first tool part in the closure direction, and a toggle lever mechanism via which the spring element biases the transmission element in the closure direction.