Angled device for performing incisions in costal arches during minimally invasive surgical procedures

Abstract

The proposed invention relates to an innovative instrument for cutting ribs during minimally invasive thoracic surgeries, differentiating itself in the market by its curved design, which eliminates the limitations of conventional straight or angled instruments. This new configuration allows smoother insertion into the surgical incisions, reducing the risk of injury to adjacent tissues and allowing broader and more precise access to delicate areas of the thorax, such as the thoracic outlet and the parasternal region. The ability to operate on bone by shearing or by means of vibrational waves further adds versatility to the device, thereby promoting its adoption by healthcare professionals and contributing to safer and more effective procedures for the treatment of thoracic deformities.

Description

Angled device for making incisions in rib arches during minimally invasive surgical procedures. DESCRIPTIVE REPORT FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Currently, it is possible to perform surgical corrections of congenital thoracic deformities, such as pectus excavatum or carinatum, or acquired deformities, such as bony calluses resulting from thoracic trauma, through video or robotic surgery.

[0002] However, there is a technical difficulty in performing the incision and resection of rib fragments via this access route with the currently available instruments for cutting ribs, as they are straight or angled with straight shafts at fixed angles. These instruments are crude, and their angulations cause secondary injuries to the tissue adjacent to the surgical field during introduction into the thoracic cavity. Sometimes the shape of these instruments makes surgical access impossible to the narrower and more delicate areas of the thorax, such as the thoracic outlet and the parasternal region of the superior mediastinum.

[0003] To solve this technical problem, we developed an instrument for cutting ribs in an arched shape, without angles between straight rods, allowing smooth entry through minimally invasive surgical incisions, reducing the possibility of collateral injury to tissues adjacent to the surgical field and allowing complete access to the rib cage. Furthermore, the invention in question may be equipped with a cutting tool that operates by shearing or that functions through the application of vibrational waves at a specific frequency to the bone. PREVIOUS EDITIONS

[0004] In invention CN213465503U, filed on June 18, 2021, a device used for surgical fixation of injured rib arches is described; however, no mention is made of any arched device for cutting rib arches in minimally invasive surgical approaches.

[0005] The invention CN107802300A, filed on March 16, 2018, describes a device used to separate ribs during surgical procedures. No mention is made of any instrument capable of cutting rib arches.

[0006] In invention US10231723B2, filed on March 19, 2019, a device used to cut rib arches in surgical procedures by shearing is described; however, no mention is made of devices that perform this function using mechanical vibrations at ultrasonic frequencies or that have an arched shape to facilitate their entry into the thoracic cavity.

[0007] The invention CN216823591 U, filed on June 28, 2022, describes a device for making bone incisions in minimally invasive surgeries, equipped with a small saw that operates using mechanical waves at an ultrasonic vibration frequency. The invention makes no mention of any device having an arched shape.

[0008] The invention CN215384395U, filed on January 4, 2022, describes an instrument used to shape costal cartilage grafts for use in plastic surgery. However, no mention is made of devices used to cut rib arches into an arched shape. GENERAL DESCRIPTION

[0009] The invention consists of a device created to perform minimally invasive surgical incisions in ribs (video or robot). It is an instrument comprised of a manual support with two handles into which the surgeon places their thumb and fourth finger to manipulate and operate the device (Figure 1, item 1). This manual support connects to the cutting head (Figure 1, item 2) via an arched rod (Figure 1, item 3). The surgeon locates the portion of the rib arch to be incised using video-assisted thoracoscopy or robotic vision of the surgical field, introduces the instrument into the cavity, fits the cutting head onto the part of the bone to be sectioned, and operates the handles of the manual support. This operation causes the cutting head to act as a guillotine, shearing the bone.The actuation can be done through a purely mechanical system or it can be equipped with an electric motor that assists the process, reducing the force required by the surgeon to apply to the rods for the procedure to be carried out. The cutting head can be equipped with a cutting system that operates through a saw that applies a vibratory wave at ultrasonic frequency to cut the bone, driven by an electric motor.

[0010] The instrument can be purely manual or it can be attached to a robotic arm to facilitate the execution of the operation. PREFERRED MODALITIES

[0011] The first preferred mode of implementation of this invention is the use of the device as a purely manual instrument with mechanical actuation. In this format, the surgeon would directly control the force and movement necessary to make the rib incision through a cutting head equipped with a guillotine, providing operational simplicity and cost reduction, since it eliminates the need for electric or electronic motors.

[0012] The second preferred mode of implementation of this invention is with the incorporation of an electric motor to assist the cutting process. The motor would reduce the effort required by the surgeon when operating the loops, maintaining cutting precision and making the procedure less tiring, especially in surgeries requiring multiple incisions.

[0013] The third preferred mode of implementation of this invention is the integration of the device into a robotic arm. This mode would be sophisticated and advantageous for complex or difficult-to-access procedures, where the precision and stability of the robotic arm, together with the surgeon's guidance, would result in more precise and safer incisions.

[0014] The fourth preferred embodiment of this invention is incorporating a cutting head equipped with an ultrasonic saw. This approach allows for finer and less traumatic cuts, taking advantage of the high frequency of vibrations to minimize damage to tissues adjacent to the rib.

Claims

MODIFIED CLAIMS Received by the International Secretariat on May 31, 2026 (31.05.2026) 1. Surgical device for making incisions in rib arches during minimally invasive surgical procedures, comprising: a hand support equipped with two handles (1) for accommodating the user's fingers; a cutting head (2); and an arched rod (3) connecting the hand support to the cutting head (2); characterized in that the arched rod (3) consists of a continuous curved structure configured for introducing the device into the thoracic cavity during procedures performed by video-assisted thoracoscopy or robotic surgery, with the cutting head (2) configured to perform bone sectioning of rib arches.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting head (2) comprises a bone shearing mechanism mechanically actuated by the manual support equipped with two handles (1).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an electric motor associated with the drive of the cutting head (2).

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is configured for coupling to a surgical robotic arm.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting head (2) comprises an ultrasonic vibration cutting system.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the ultrasonic vibration cutting system is driven by an electric motor.

7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arched rod (3) is devoid of intermediate angular joints. MODIFIED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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