Endoscopic Suture Cutter Jaw Position Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional endoscopic suture cutters often become stuck in over-opened or over-closed positions, complicating suture removal procedures and requiring additional surgical intervention or new tools, due to the lack of effective mechanisms to prevent these conditions.

Innovation Solution

A rotatable jaw device with protrusions on the outside surface of the jaws, mounted to a fork, which prohibits movement beyond the desired open or closed positions, maintaining a smooth inner surface for easy sharpening and operation, and allowing for safe and controlled suture cutting and removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional cutting devices with pivoting jaws are used, then suture cutting function is achieved, but the jaws may become stuck in over-opened or over-closed positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejaw position controlVSAvoidjaw movement control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating protrusions on the jaws that prevent over-opening and over-closing before they can occur. These protrusions act as preventive mechanisms that stop the jaws from moving beyond their intended positions, thereby preventing the stuck condition described in the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusions serve as intermediary elements between the jaws and the surrounding structure. These protrusions mediate the jaw movement by providing physical stops that limit the range of motion, preventing direct contact and sticking between the jaws and other components at extreme positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If protrusions are added to the jaw surface to limit rotational movement, then jaw position control is improved, but the inner surface smoothness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational movement limitationVSAvoidsurface smoothness for sharpening

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by placing protrusions only on specific portions of the jaw surface where rotational movement needs to be limited, while leaving the inner surface smooth for sharpening. This localized modification allows the jaw to have both position control capability and ease of manufacture for the cutting edge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The jaw surface is segmented into different functional zones: protrusions are located on the outer surface for rotational limitation, while the inner surface remains smooth for sharpening. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11937840B2Endoscopic suture cutter

Publication Date: 2024.03.26 UNITED STATES ENDOSCOPY GROUP INC

AI summary

A rotatable jaw device for use with an endoscope, and method for using such a device. The device includes a fork, and two jaws pivotally mounted to the fork. The jaws are movable between a predetermined closed position and a predetermined open position. At least one jaw has at least one protrusion on a surface of the jaw. The at least one protrusion prohibits movement of the two jaws in the opening direction beyond the predetermined open position.