Surgical Latch Assembly Guide Track Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments, particularly forceps, face challenges in providing precise control over clamping pressure and electrosurgical energy delivery for tissue sealing and cutting, often requiring manual adjustment and lacking intuitive feedback mechanisms for the user.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a latch assembly with a movable handle and a guide track system that includes engagement members and flanges, providing tactile and audible feedback to ensure precise positioning and latching of the handle, thereby facilitating controlled transitions between grasping and cutting states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a latch assembly with guide track and engagement members is implemented, then positioning precision and control reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide track is segmented into distinct functional zones: a first portion for guiding engagement member movement during latching, a second portion for guiding movement during unlatching, and a third portion for guiding return movement. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall system precision without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement member acts as an intermediary between the movable handle and the latch block. It translates the handle's movement into controlled engagement and disengagement actions, providing precise positioning feedback while simplifying the overall control mechanism through a single intermediary component.
2Ease of operation
If feedback mechanisms are added to provide tactile and audible feedback, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly generates its own feedback signals through the mechanical interaction of its components. The engagement member's movement along the guide track naturally produces tactile feedback when engaging with the engagement portion, and the mechanical snap-action produces audible feedback. No external feedback systems are required, as the system serves itself through inherent mechanical feedback.
3Reliability
If the guide track includes multiple paths (latching path, return path, engagement portion), then reliability of latching and unlatching is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide track is designed to dynamically adapt to the engagement member's position and movement state. The track's geometry naturally transitions between guiding latching movement, return movement, and engagement actions based on the engagement member's location. This dynamic guidance ensures reliable operation without requiring complex control systems or multiple separate mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes a handle movable between first and second positions for transitioning an end effector assembly between states and to a third position for returning the handle. A latch arm coupled to the handle includes one or more engagement members. A latch block defines a guide track having a latching path configured to guide the engagement member(s) therealong, an engagement portion configured to engage the engagement member(s) to latch the handle in the second position, and a return path configured to guide the engagement member(s) therealong. A first step interdisposed between the latching path and engagement portion guides the engagement member(s) into engagement with the engagement portion and inhibits the engagement member(s) from returning along the latching path. A second step interdisposed between the engagement portion and the return path guides the engagement member(s) along the return path and inhibits the engagement member(s) from re-engaging the engagement portion.