Surgical Instrument Trigger Mechanism for Integrated Tissue Treatment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments face challenges in efficiently treating and dividing tissue, as they often require separate mechanisms for grasping, treating, and cutting, which can complicate the surgical process and increase procedural time.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a housing, shaft, end effector assembly, and trigger mechanism that allows for energy supply to tissue and a knife deployment system, enabling both energy treatment and precise cutting in a single device, with a toggle and disc body trigger for manual manipulation and energy activation, and a dual-rake cutting edge for efficient tissue division.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate mechanisms are used for grasping, treating, and cutting tissue, then each function can be performed with specialized components, but the device complexity and procedural time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple surgical functions (grasping, energy treatment, and cutting) into a single integrated instrument. The end effector assembly incorporates both the energy delivery mechanism and the cutting knife within the same structure, allowing all functions to be performed with one device rather than requiring separate instruments for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical instrument is designed as a multi-functional device where a single end effector assembly can perform grasping, energy treatment (coagulation/cauterization), and cutting functions. The trigger mechanism provides universal control for activating both the energy delivery and knife deployment functions from a single operational interface.
2Ease of operation
If separate mechanisms are used for treating and dividing tissue, then each function can be optimized independently, but the ease of operation and procedural efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism integrates control for both energy treatment and knife deployment into a single operational interface. The surgeon can activate treatment and cutting functions sequentially using the same trigger, eliminating the need to switch between separate instruments or adjust multiple controls during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The knife is designed with a sliding mechanism that allows it to move between retracted and extended positions dynamically during the procedure. This dynamic adjustment enables the knife to be deployed only when needed for cutting, while remaining retracted during tissue grasping and treatment phases, providing operational flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a knife is integrated into the end effector assembly, then cutting can be performed with the same instrument used for treatment, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The knife is nested within the shaft of the instrument, sliding in and out of the end effector assembly as needed. When not in use, the knife is concealed within the shaft structure, maintaining a compact profile. During cutting operations, the knife extends from the shaft to perform the cutting function, then retracts back into its nested position.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting function is separated as a distinct modular component (the knife) that can be independently controlled and deployed. The knife is a separate element that slides within the shaft, allowing it to be activated independently from the energy treatment function while maintaining structural integration with the overall instrument.
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
Facilitates efficient grasping, treating, and dividing of tissue with a single instrument, reducing procedural complexity and time by integrating energy supply and cutting functions, while providing precise control and effective tissue division.
Implementation Method 1
Energy-based surgical forceps utilize both mechanical clamping action and energy, e.g., radiofrequency (RF) energy, microwave energy, ultrasonic energy, light energy, thermal energy, etc., to heat tissue to treat, e.g., coagulate, cauterize, and/or seal, tissue
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes a shaft extending distally from the housing, an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft and configured to supply energy to tissue to treat tissue, a knife slidably disposed within the shaft and movable relative to the end effector assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, and a trigger operably coupled to the housing. The trigger is selectively activatable from a neutral position to a laterally pivoted position to supply energy to the end effector assembly and is selectively actuatable from a distal position to a proximally pivoted position to deploy the knife from the retracted position to the extended position. In the laterally pivoted position of the trigger, actuation of the trigger is inhibited. In the proximally pivoted position of the trigger, activation of the trigger is inhibited.