Articulating Surgical Shaft Stiffness via Conductive Lead Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In articulating surgical instruments, the tendency of cables or tendons to stretch under high tension reduces the stiffness of the shaft, compromising its functionality, especially in minimally invasive procedures where precise positioning is critical.
Innovation Solution
The use of conductive leads that transition between states to either enable or disable articulation of the shaft by forming an interference fit within bores, reducing tendon tension and maintaining shaft stiffness by preventing unwanted articulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If cables or tendons are highly loaded in tension to remove cable or tendon stretch, then the shaft is prevented from articulating, but the stiffness of the cables or tendons reduces over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional cable or tendon mechanical system with a rigid rod system. The rigid rods transmit articulation forces without exhibiting the stretch and stiffness degradation problems inherent in flexible cables or tendons. This substitution eliminates the need to highly load flexible elements, thereby maintaining both articulation stability and element strength over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the articulation mechanism by using rigid rods with specific dimensional characteristics (diameter, length, material properties) that provide sufficient stiffness while maintaining the ability to articulate. The rigid rods are designed with parameters that optimize both structural integrity and articulation functionality, avoiding the stiffness degradation issue of highly loaded flexible elements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the shaft is allowed to articulate freely, then positioning flexibility is improved, but unintended changes in orientation occur compromising precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic locking mechanism that allows the shaft to transition between articulated and locked states. The rigid rods are configured to engage with locking features that prevent unintended articulation while allowing deliberate repositioning. This dynamic system provides both positioning flexibility during adjustment and stability during tissue manipulation, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism through the locking system that detects and responds to articulation movements. When the shaft reaches a desired position, the locking mechanism engages to maintain that position, providing feedback-based stabilization. This ensures that once positioning is achieved, unintended changes in orientation are prevented, thereby maintaining measurement precision.
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 solution maintains the stiffness of the articulating shaft, preventing unintended changes in orientation and ensuring precise tissue positioning during surgical procedures by controlling the conductive leads' state to lock the articulation mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
The corresponding conductive leads transition from a first state for enabling articulation of the shaft about the articulating section, to a second state for disabling articulation of the shaft about the articulating section
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscopic instrument includes a housing having shaft extending therefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough. The shaft includes an articulating section disposed thereon. The articulating section has a central annulus extending therealong and first and second pluralities of bores. The first plurality of bores configured to receive corresponding tendons therethrough and the second plurality of bores configured to receive corresponding conductive leads therethrough. An end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft including a pair of first and second jaw members. The corresponding conductive leads transition from a first state for enabling articulation of the shaft about the articulating section, to a second state for disabling articulation of the shaft about the articulating section.