Surgical Instrument Seal Compression for Gas Leakage Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing robotic surgical instruments face challenges in effectively sealing a small seal member due to insufficient compression by the shaft, leading to potential gas leakage from the body cavity during endoscope surgery.

Innovation Solution

The surgical instrument design includes a seal member in the support body, compressed by a pressing member that is pressed by the shaft, ensuring adequate sealing even with a small support body size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the size of the support body is reduced, then the miniaturization of the surgical instrument is improved, but the compression force on the seal member becomes insufficient leading to sealing reliability deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport body sizeVSAvoidsealing reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A pressing member is introduced as an intermediary component between the shaft and the seal member. The pressing member has a pressing surface that contacts and compresses the seal member, while being pressed by the shaft. This intermediary structure enables effective force transmission to the seal member even when the support body is miniaturized, resolving the contradiction between small size and sufficient sealing compression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of moving object

If the seal member size is reduced to match the small support body, then the device compactness is improved, but the surface area for compression becomes insufficient leading to sealing effectiveness deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal member surface areaVSAvoidsealing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing member serves as a force amplification intermediary that concentrates compression force onto the seal member. Even though the seal member has a small surface area due to the compact support body, the pressing member ensures sufficient local compression pressure is applied, maintaining sealing effectiveness despite the reduced overall seal member size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing member creates a localized high-compression zone at the interface with the seal member. Rather than requiring uniform compression across a large area, the pressing surface of the pressing member concentrates force where needed, enabling effective sealing of the small seal member through localized high pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This design ensures reliable sealing of the support body by sufficiently compressing the seal member, preventing gas leakage from the body cavity during surgery.

Implementation Method 1

a pressing member including a pressing surface in contact with and pressing a surface of the seal member on a side of the shaft, wherein the pressing member is pressed by the shaft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS12544168B2Surgical instrument and method of assembling surgical instrument

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 MEDICAROID CORP

AI summary

A surgical instrument according to an embodiment may include: a shaft; a seal member disposed in a support body; and a pressing member including a pressing surface in contact with and pressing a surface of the seal member on a side of the shaft, wherein the pressing member is pressed by the shaft.