Surgical Jaws with Segmented Support for Electrosurgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical jaw assemblies for electrosurgery have limitations in tissue coagulation length due to their short length and curvature, leading to tissue bulging and incomplete coagulation under the 'humps' of the wire jaws.
Innovation Solution
A surgical tool assembly with elongated jaws that include a support element with a first and second portion, where the teeth extend into a second region, allowing for enhanced grasping, coagulation, and cutting length, while eliminating tissue bulging by curving to engage with a sheath for controlled movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wire jaws with curvature are used for tissue coagulation, then the jaws can be flexible and grasp tissue, but the curvature causes tissue bulging and incomplete coagulation underneath the humps
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw is segmented into multiple functional regions: a curved portion for flexibility and grasping, a straight portion for stable coagulation contact, and teeth for enhanced tissue engagement. This segmentation allows different portions to perform different functions optimally.
Solution Approach 2:
The jaw incorporates a curved portion with controlled curvature to maintain flexibility and conformability to tissue, while transitioning to a straight portion that eliminates bulging during coagulation. The curvature is strategically designed to bend away from the tissue rather than create humps underneath.
2Device complexity
If short wire jaws are used, then the device structure remains simple, but the coagulation length is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw structure is divided into distinct segments including a curved portion, a straight portion, and teeth, allowing the overall length to be extended while maintaining structural simplicity in each individual segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The jaw design extends in the longitudinal dimension by adding the straight portion beyond the curved portion, effectively increasing the coagulation length available while keeping the cross-sectional structure simple and manageable.
3Length of moving object
If teeth are extended into the second region, then grasping and coagulation length is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw is divided into a first region with the curved portion and a second region with the straight portion, with teeth distributed across both regions. This segmentation allows extended functional length while maintaining modular simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The teeth serve multiple functions: they provide grasping engagement in the first region and extended coagulation contact in the second region, making the jaw structure multi-functional and reducing the need for separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical tool assembly for use in electrosurgery includes an elongated sheath movable in a longitudinal direction. The assembly includes a pair of jaws, with each jaw having a plurality of teeth for grasping tissue and a support element supporting the plurality of teeth. The support element is disposed partially within the sheath and extends to a distal end disposed outside of the sheath. The support element includes a first portion extending from the distal end and delineating a first region. The support element further includes a second portion extending from the first portion and delineating a second region. The second portion is curved to engage with the sheath such that the jaws move towards one another as the elongated sheath moves towards the distal end. The teeth extend from the first region into the second region.