Absorbent Trocar Cleaning Instrument for Laparoscopic Fluid Management

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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 the duration of instrument insertion into the abdominal cavity.

Innovation Solution

A surgical device with an absorbent area, comprising sterile cotton discs of varying diameters, 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

VSEngineering 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 deposited on trocar surfaces obscure the laparoscope lens requiring repeated cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelaparoscope lens clarityVSAvoidtime under anesthesia

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbent material is attached to the trocar shaft before insertion into the patient's body. This preliminary action allows the absorbent material to proactively capture fluid materials as they are deposited on the trocar surfaces during insertion and surgery, preventing these fluids from reaching and obscuring the laparoscope lens, thereby eliminating the need for repeated lens cleaning interruptions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The absorbent material acts as an intermediary element between the trocar shaft and the laparoscope lens. It intercepts and absorbs fluid materials deposited on the trocar surfaces, serving as a barrier that prevents these fluids from migrating to the lens and causing obscuration, thus maintaining clear visualization without requiring frequent interventions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If the laparoscope is repeatedly removed for lens cleaning, then the fluid obstructions are cleared, but the duration of instrument insertion into the abdominal cavity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelaparoscope lens clarityVSAvoidinstrument insertion duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbent material is pre-mounted on the trocar shaft to proactively prevent fluid accumulation on the lens throughout the surgical procedure. This continuous protective action eliminates the need for repeated lens cleaning interruptions, thereby reducing the total duration that instruments remain inserted in the abdominal cavity and minimizing the patient's exposure time under anesthesia

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of time

If absorbent material is applied to the trocar shaft, then the number of lens cleaning passes is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelens cleaning timeVSAvoidtrocar device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbent material is configured as a thin, flexible coating or layer attached to the trocar shaft. This thin-film approach provides effective fluid absorption capabilities while adding minimal structural complexity to the trocar device, maintaining simplicity in the overall device design while significantly reducing the number of lens cleaning passes required during surgery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 effectively reduces the time required for laparoscopy by minimizing the number of passes needed to clear fluid obstructions, thereby shortening anesthesia time and instrument exposure within the abdominal cavity.

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.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

When a part of the absorbent area is passed through a tip at the distal end of the trocar, the absorbent area absorbs fluid along an outer wall of the tip.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS8480699B2Fluid absorbent surgical device for trocars

Publication Date: 2013.07.09 IHDE II GLENN M

AI summary

A system for absorbing fluid material on trocar surfaces is provided. The system comprises a trocar and a cleaning instrument having at least two ends with an absorbent area at one end of the cleaning instrument. 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. Furthermore, when a part of the absorbent area is passed through a tip at the distal end of the trocar, the absorbent area absorbs fluid along an outer wall of the tip.