Three-Jaw Laparoscopic Grasper for Tissue Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laparoscopic grasping and dissecting devices with two jaws often cause unintentional tissue damage due to high pressure and limited access, as they require significant compressive forces and have restricted motion, making it difficult to grasp or dissect tissue effectively in confined spaces.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device with three movable jaws that can be actuated between open and closed positions, allowing for reduced pressure on tissue and improved access, featuring independently movable or retractable jaws and energy delivery capabilities for secure grasping and dissecting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two-jawed graspers are used to engage tissue, then tissue can be grasped effectively, but significant compressive forces are required which increase the risk of unintentional tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The grasper is divided into three independently controllable jaws instead of two, allowing distributed contact points with the tissue. This segmentation enables the force to be spread across multiple contact points (first jaw contacting first tissue surface, second jaw contacting second tissue surface, third jaw contacting third tissue surface), reducing the compressive force concentration at any single point while maintaining reliable tissue engagement.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the size of the grasper is increased to provide larger tissue-engaging surfaces, then tissue damage risk decreases, but the grasper size is limited by the access port size and visualization constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a planar two-jaw configuration to a three-dimensional three-jaw configuration. The jaws are arranged radially around the longitudinal axis of the end effector, with each jaw capable of pivoting in its own plane. This spatial arrangement creates a volumetric grasp that provides larger effective tissue-engaging surfaces without increasing the linear dimensions of the grasper, thereby working within the access port size constraints while reducing tissue damage risk through distributed contact.
3Reliability
If two-jawed graspers are used, then tissue can be engaged, but the range of motion is limited making it difficult to occlude puncture sites
Solution Approach 1:
Each of the three jaws is equipped with an independent actuator that enables individual pivoting motion. This dynamic configuration allows the jaws to be positioned and oriented independently of one another, providing flexible adjustment of the grasp geometry. The independent actuators enable the jaws to adapt to various tissue configurations and puncture site locations, significantly enhancing the range of motion and occlusion capability compared to coupled two-jaw systems.
4Productivity
If conventional two-jawed dissectors are used, then tissue can be separated, but high pressure is placed on the tissue leading to unintentional damage
Solution Approach 1:
The dissector is configured with three jaws that can independently pivot and apply force to different portions of the tissue. This segmentation allows the dissection force to be distributed across multiple contact points rather than concentrated at two points, enabling efficient tissue separation while minimizing localized pressure that could cause unintentional tissue damage.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices are provided utilizing an end effector having three jaws movably coupled thereto for grasping and/or dissecting tissue. In one embodiment, each of the three jaws are movable between an open position in which the distal ends of the three jaws are spaced apart from one another, and a closed position in which the distal ends directly contact one another. The jaws can define an opening therebetween when the jaws are in the closed position.