Tissue Separation Jaws With Coupled Rotation and Distal Translation
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinged tissue separation tools face challenges in maintaining engagement with tissue layers as the jaws rotate outwardly, leading to potential slippage due to rearward motion, which is difficult to control manually.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs jaw members with rotatable coupling and curved channels that translate and rotate outwardly, maintaining engagement with tissue surfaces by translating distally while opening, and retracting by moving backward to enhance separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional hinged jaws rotate outwardly to separate tissue layers, then the jaws can open to displace tissue, but the distal ends rotate rearwardly away from the tissue causing loss of engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a longitudinal translation dimension to the traditional rotational jaw motion. As the jaws rotate outwardly to open, they simultaneously translate forward (distally) along the longitudinal axis, preventing the distal ends from rotating rearwardly and losing engagement with the tissue layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism transforms the static fulcrum-based rotation into a dynamic coupled motion where jaw opening rotation is combined with forward translation. This dynamic motion pattern ensures continuous tissue engagement while maintaining the ability to open jaws for tissue separation.
2Reliability
If manual thrust is applied to prevent jaw withdrawal, then jaw engagement is maintained, but precise control of forward movement is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism is designed to automatically produce the precise forward translation motion through its mechanical coupling of the jaw opening rotation with longitudinal movement. The system self-regulates the translation distance based on the rotation angle, eliminating the need for manual thrust control and providing precise, repeatable motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical linkage creates an inherent feedback mechanism where the rotation of the jaws about the fulcrum is directly coupled to the longitudinal translation distance. As the jaws rotate open, the geometry of the mechanism automatically determines the forward movement distance, ensuring precise control without manual intervention.
3Ease of operation
If jaws rotate outwardly about a fulcrum, then the jaws can open to spread tissue layers, but the geometry causes distal ends to move rearwardly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two motions (jaw opening rotation and forward translation) into a single integrated mechanism. By combining these motions through the mechanical coupling of the fulcrum rotation with longitudinal movement, the system achieves tissue separation while maintaining engagement without requiring separate control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses for and methods of separating tissue with opposing jaw members having distal ends that translate toward a surface of the tissue as the jaw members are rotated outwardly to maintain engagement with the tissue. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes jaw members rotatably coupled adjacent to their proximal ends. The jaw members define opposing outwardly-facing curved channels disposed between their proximal and distal ends that slidably engage a distal pin. A bracket defines a distal socket that receives the distal pin. As the jaw members are motivated in a distal direction relative to the bracket toward the distal pin, engagement of the distal pin with the outwardly-facing curved channels causes the jaw members to rotate to cause the distal ends of the jaw members move outwardly transversely to the distal direction while the distal ends translate in the distal direction.