Absorbent Surgical Device for Laparoscope Lens Clarity
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Solution Overview
Problem
During laparoscopic surgery, fluid materials deposited on trocar surfaces tend to obscure the laparoscope lens, requiring repeated removal and cleaning, which increases the time under anesthesia and within the abdominal cavity.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device with an absorbent area, comprising sterile cotton discs and spacers, is inserted into the trocar to absorb fluid materials from the inner and outer walls and tip, reducing the need for frequent lens cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a trocar is used to maintain pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgery, then the surgeon's view and ability to make manipulations is enhanced, but fluid materials are deposited on the trocar surfaces which obscure the laparoscope lens
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent surgical device is inserted into the trocar before the laparoscope to pre-absorb fluid materials deposited on the trocar inner wall and tip. This preliminary cleaning action prevents fluid from transferring to the laparoscope lens when it is subsequently inserted, thereby maintaining lens clarity without requiring repeated cleaning interruptions.
2Illumination intensity
If the laparoscope is repeatedly removed and cleaned due to fluid obscuration, then the lens clarity is restored, but the surgery time and patient anesthesia duration increase
Solution Approach 1:
By placing the absorbent device in the trocar beforehand, the harmful fluid deposition is addressed before the laparoscope enters the abdominal cavity. This prevents the need for repeated laparoscope removal and cleaning, thereby reducing surgery time and minimizing patient anesthesia duration while maintaining continuous lens clarity.
3Reliability
If the absorbent area has a larger outer diameter than the trocar inner diameter to contact and absorb fluid along the inner wall, then fluid absorption effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent surgical device utilizes a flexible absorbent material that can conform to the trocar's inner wall surface. This flexible structure allows the absorbent area to effectively contact and absorb fluid along the curved inner wall and tip of the trocar without requiring a complex rigid structure, thereby maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliable fluid absorption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The absorbent device minimizes the number of passes required to clear fluid from the laparoscope lens, thereby reducing the overall surgery time and minimizing patient anesthesia duration.
Implementation Method 1
The absorbent area has a first outer diameter at a first part of the absorbent area and a second smaller outer diameter at a second part of the absorbent area, such that at least a portion of the absorbent area has an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the trocar. When the absorbent area is inserted inside the trocar, the absorbent area comes into contact with an inner wall of the trocar and absorbs fluid along the inner wall.
Implementation Method 2
The absorbent area comprises sterile cotton discs and spacers. When the absorbent area is inserted inside the trocar, the absorbent area comes into contact with an inner wall of the trocar and absorbs fluid along the inner wall.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument that absorbs fluid material on surfaces of a trocar is provided. The surgical instrument comprises a handle having at least two ends and an absorbent area at a first end of the handle. The absorbent area comprises a plurality of absorbent discs and a plurality of spacers.