Surgical Wire Guide for Electrical Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy-based surgical forceps face challenges in protecting electrical wires from damage and interference with other components, as they extend through hollow or semi-hollow housings to supply energy to the end effector assembly.
Innovation Solution
A wire guide is integrated into the surgical instrument, featuring U-shaped channels and guiding supports to securely route and maintain the position of electrical wires along the drive plate, ensuring they remain undamaged and do not interfere with other components, while allowing for the movement of the drive plate and jaw members between spaced-apart and approximated positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical wires extend through hollow or semi-hollow housings to supply energy to the end effector assembly, then energy delivery to the tissue is enabled, but the electrical wires are vulnerable to damage and interference from other components
Solution Approach 1:
The wire guide is nested within the hollow housing, creating a protective pathway for the electrical wires. The wires are positioned inside the wire guide which is itself positioned inside the housing, forming a nested structure that protects the wires from damage and interference while maintaining access to the end effector assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The wire guide acts as an intermediary component between the electrical wires and the surrounding housing/components. It provides a dedicated pathway that mediates the interaction between the wires and other components, preventing direct contact that could cause damage or interference
2Adaptability or versatility
If the drive plate moves through the lumen of the shaft to manipulate the end effector assembly, then the end effector can transition between spaced-apart and approximated positions, but the electrical wires may interfere with the movement or be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The internal space of the shaft is segmented into distinct zones: the wire guide pathway for electrical wires, and the drive plate pathway for mechanical manipulation. This segmentation allows the wires and moving components to occupy separate spaces, enabling end effector positioning while protecting wire integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The wire guide utilizes the radial dimension of the shaft lumen, positioning wires in a different spatial dimension than the drive plate movement. The wires are arranged radially within the wire guide while the drive plate moves longitudinally, allowing both functions to coexist without interference
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes a shaft defining a lumen, an end effector assembly disposed at the distal end portion of the shaft, a drive plate, a first electrical wire, and a wire guide. The end effector assembly includes a first electrically-conductive tissue-treating surface. The drive plate extends through the lumen of the shaft and operably engages the end effector assembly such that movement of the drive plate through the lumen of the shaft manipulates the end effector assembly. The first electrical wire also extends through the lumen of the shaft and is configured to supply energy to the first electrically-conductive tissue-treating surface. The wire guide is engaged to a distal portion of the drive plate and is configured to move through the lumen of the shaft in conjunction with the drive plate. The wire guide is also configured to receive the first electrical wire.