Ultrasonic Surgical Articulation Joint for Play-Free End-Effector Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic surgical instruments face challenges with articulating shaft sections that exhibit play or looseness due to manufacturing tolerances, affecting precision and control during tissue cutting and coagulation.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a restricting member that cooperates with a translating member to rigidize the articulation section, ensuring precise alignment and reducing play in the articulation mechanism, while maintaining flexibility for deflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If articulating shaft section is designed with flexibility for deflection, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to play and looseness from tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
A restricting member is introduced as an intermediary element between the articulating shaft section components. This restricting member selectively restricts movement in one direction while permitting movement in another direction, thereby eliminating unwanted play and looseness without compromising the flexibility needed for deflection. The restricting member acts as a mediator that reconciles the conflicting requirements of precision and adaptability.
2Manufacturing precision
If restricting member is added to rigidize articulation section, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The restricting member is designed to provide rigidity only in the specific location and direction where play and looseness occur, rather than making the entire articulation section rigid. This localized approach eliminates unwanted movement precisely where needed while preserving flexibility in other directions, thereby improving precision without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If translating member is made translatable to actuate articulation section, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential play and looseness
Solution Approach 1:
The restricting member is pre-configured within the articulation section to counteract potential play and looseness before they affect operation. By selectively restricting movement in advance, the system prevents the development of unwanted gaps or looseness during translating member actuation, thereby maintaining both ease of operation and reliability throughout the procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical apparatus includes a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and a restricting member. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The acoustic waveguide is coupled with the transducer. The articulation section is operable to flex to thereby deflect the end effector from a longitudinal axis defined by the shaft. The restricting member is operable to restrict lateral deflection of the end effector. The restricting member is further operable to cooperate with a translating member to rigidize the articulation section when the end effector is aligned with the longitudinal axis. Such rigidization includes removing any “play” or other small movement that might otherwise be provided by the articulation section due to manufacturing tolerances and/or looseness between parts.