Tonsil Forceps with Cradling Grasping Members

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tonsil forceps often bite, stab, or cut the tonsil during grasping, leading to undesirable fragmentation during resection, as they are not designed to securely grasp and pull the tonsil without damaging the surrounding tissue.

Innovation Solution

The design of tonsil forceps with intersecting and pivoting arm members featuring curved, palm-like grasping members with inwardly facing blunt tine members and lateral projection members, which are angled and positioned to cradle the tonsil without interdigitating, allowing for secure grasping and pulling without shearing or piercing, and equipped with a ratchet-type locking mechanism for multiple locked positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If standard forceps with sharp teeth or blades are used to grasp the tonsil, then the tonsil can be firmly held, but the tonsil surface is bitten, stabbed, or cut causing fragmentation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrasping forceVSAvoidtonsil fragmentation

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The grasping members are designed with different surface characteristics: smooth inner surfaces that contact the tonsil to prevent damage, and outer surfaces with projection members that provide grip. This local differentiation allows the forceps to grasp firmly without damaging the tonsil tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using sharp edges or teeth that penetrate tissue (conventional approach), the invention uses smooth, rounded surfaces that cradle and conform to the tonsil shape. The projection members extend outward rather than inward, providing grip without piercing the tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Force

If the distal ends of arm members are closed tightly to secure the tonsil, then grasping strength increases, but shearing and piercing of the tonsil occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamping forceVSAvoidtonsil shearing

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The inner surfaces of the grasping members are specifically designed to be smooth and rounded, creating localized contact zones that distribute pressure evenly across the tonsil surface. This prevents shearing forces while maintaining secure grasping through the outward-extending projection members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If conventional forceps design is used, then the structure is simple, but the forceps cannot securely grasp partially embedded tonsils without damaging surrounding tissue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforceps structureVSAvoidgrasping security

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Each grasping member is segmented into distinct functional zones: smooth inner surfaces for tissue contact, outward-extending projection members for grip enhancement, and curved geometries for conforming to tonsil shape. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The grasping members feature curved and rounded surfaces that conform to the natural spherical or oval shape of the tonsil. This curvature allows the forceps to securely grasp partially embedded tonsils by wrapping around them, while the smooth surfaces prevent damage to surrounding tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS9808272B2Tonsil forceps

Publication Date: 2017.11.07 WOHL DANIEL L

AI summary

A locking tonsil forceps having first and second intersecting and pivoting arm members, and grasping members disposed on the arm members. The grasping members have blunt tine members, a concave interior surface, inwardly facing blunt interior projection members, flush lateral projection members and angled lateral projection members. The tine members and projecting members are non-contacting with each other even in the maximum closed forceps position.