Surgical Instrument Variable Gripping Force Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments face challenges in switching between appropriate gripping forces for sealing and incising treatments, as different treatments require distinct magnitudes of gripping forces to effectively apply treatment energy.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a sheath and pair of grasps, where a drive shaft is coupled to the grasps to open or close them, and electric elements apply treatment energy, featuring a first and second operating device to supply electric energy in different states, allowing for variable gripping forces based on treatment type through a mechanism involving resilient members and sliders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed gripping force is used in the surgical instrument, then the structure is simple, but it cannot provide appropriate gripping forces for both sealing and incising treatments
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument employs a dynamic gripping mechanism where the gripping force is not fixed but can be adjusted based on the treatment type. The drive shaft and resilient members enable the grasps to apply different gripping forces dynamically - higher force for incising treatments and lower force for sealing treatments - thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of gripping force magnitude based on the treatment mode. By using the drive shaft mechanism coupled with resilient members, the system can vary the gripping force parameter - applying larger forces when incising is required and smaller forces when sealing is needed - thus achieving adaptability without requiring multiple separate instruments.
2Reliability
If different gripping forces are applied for sealing and incising treatments, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but the control mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient members are configured to automatically provide the appropriate gripping force based on the treatment mode without requiring complex external control systems. The drive shaft mechanism works in conjunction with the resilient members to self-regulate the gripping force - the elasticity and pre-load of the resilient members naturally provide different force levels for sealing versus incising, simplifying the control mechanism while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive shaft acts as an intermediary element between the operating device and the grasps, mediating the transmission of force. Coupled with the resilient members, it provides a controlled interface that translates operator input into appropriate gripping forces for different treatments, reducing the need for complex direct control mechanisms while ensuring reliable treatment outcomes.
3Ease of operation
If the surgical instrument structure is simplified, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to switch between gripping forces is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drive shaft mechanism with the resilient members into an integrated assembly that combines multiple functions - force transmission, force regulation, and mode switching - into a single compact structure. This merging enables the instrument to switch between gripping forces while maintaining operational simplicity, as the combined mechanism works automatically based on the treatment mode without requiring separate complex control systems for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed technology is directed to a surgical instrument comprises a sheath having respective opposed proximal and distal ends. A pair of grasps is disposed on the distal-end portion of the sheath gripping a treatment target therebetween. A drive shaft is coupled to at least one of the pair of grasps to open or to close the pair of grasps by being moved along the longitudinal axis with respect to the sheath. Electric elements are used to apply treatment energy to the treatment target. A first operating device supplies the electric energy to the electric elements in a first supply state. A first member produces a force to open or close the pair of grasps and applies the force to the drive shaft. A second member is disposed in line with the first member and applies a force to the drive shaft in response to the operation input.