Tenaculum Anti-Splay Wing for Stable Arm Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tenaculums, particularly disposable ones, are prone to flexing during use, leading to misalignment of their arms and grasping tip, making surgical procedures difficult due to the lack of effective alignment features and the obtrusive nature of existing anti-splay wings.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a first arm pivotably connected to a second arm, featuring a slidable anti-splay wing and receiving body that maintains alignment during transitions between open and closed configurations, and alignment features that do not project outward, ensuring a streamlined form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional tenaculums are used without alignment features, then the device structure is simple, but the arms and grasping tip become misaligned during use due to flexing
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-splay wing is nested within the receiving body, with the wing sliding within a recessed cavity. This nesting arrangement allows the alignment feature to be contained within the arm structure itself, maintaining alignment stability without adding external complexity or projecting outward from the arm surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-splay wing acts as an intermediary element between the two arms, providing a mechanical connection that prevents flexing and maintains alignment. The wing slides within the receiving body to transmit forces and maintain the relative position of the arms during use.
2Reliability
If existing anti-splay wings are used, then arm alignment is improved, but the wings project outwardly creating an obtrusive form factor
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-splay wing is nested within the receiving body, with the wing sliding within a recessed cavity. This nesting arrangement allows the alignment feature to be contained within the arm structure itself, maintaining alignment stability without adding external complexity or projecting outward from the arm surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-splay wing is extracted from the external surface and integrated into the internal structure of the arm by nesting it within the receiving body. This extraction removes the obtrusive external projection while preserving the essential alignment function.
3Ease of manufacture
If disposable tenaculums are used, then cost is reduced, but flexing during use causes misalignment making procedures difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-splay wing is nested within the receiving body, with the wing sliding within a recessed cavity. This nesting arrangement allows the alignment feature to be contained within the arm structure itself, maintaining alignment stability without adding external complexity or projecting outward from the arm surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-splay wing acts as an intermediary element between the two arms, providing a mechanical connection that prevents flexing and maintains alignment. The wing slides within the receiving body to transmit forces and maintain the relative position of the arms during use.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument that includes a first arm pivotably connected to a second arm at a pivot. The first arm and the second arm form a body having a proximal end and a distal end. A handle is disposed at the proximal end and a grasping tip at the distal end. The first arm includes a receiving body and the second arm includes an anti-splay wing. Slidable engagement of the anti-splay wing and the receiving body maintains alignment of the first arm and the second arm as the surgical instrument transitions between an open configuration and a closed configuration. An end of the anti-splay wing is substantially contained by the receiving body when the surgical instrument is in the closed configuration.