Adjustable Liposuction Cannula with Nested Hollow Members

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liposuction cannulas are non-adjustable, requiring surgeons to exchange instruments during procedures to change opening sizes or configurations, increasing surgery time and anesthesia duration, and necessitating a large inventory of cannulas for varying sizes and configurations.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable cannula system comprising nested hollow members with movable inner and outer components, allowing for adjustment of opening sizes, shapes, and configurations without instrument exchange, using mechanisms like rotation, translation, and deformation to alter passageway sizes and locations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional non-adjustable cannulas are used, then the cannula structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the surgery time increases due to instrument exchanges and a large inventory is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgery timeVSAvoidcannula structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cannula employs dynamic, adjustable openings that can change size and configuration during the procedure. The inner hollow member with openings can be moved relative to the outer hollow member to adjust the effective opening size, allowing the device to adapt to different surgical requirements without exchanging instruments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustable cannula is designed to perform multiple functions with a single device. By adjusting the overlap between inner and outer hollow member openings, the same cannula can create different passageway sizes and configurations, eliminating the need for multiple specialized cannulas and reducing inventory requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple cannulas with different opening sizes are kept in inventory, then various fat removal needs can be met, but the quantity of cannulas required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening size variationVSAvoidnumber of cannulas

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The cannula employs dynamic, adjustable openings that can change size and configuration during the procedure. The inner hollow member with openings can be moved relative to the outer hollow member to adjust the effective opening size, allowing the device to adapt to different surgical requirements without exchanging instruments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustable cannula is designed to perform multiple functions with a single device. By adjusting the overlap between inner and outer hollow member openings, the same cannula can create different passageway sizes and configurations, eliminating the need for multiple specialized cannulas and reducing inventory requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If cannulas are exchanged during procedure to change opening size, then precise fat removal is achieved, but the duration of anesthesia increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefat removal precisionVSAvoidanesthesia duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cannula employs dynamic, adjustable openings that can change size and configuration during the procedure. The inner hollow member with openings can be moved relative to the outer hollow member to adjust the effective opening size, allowing the device to adapt to different surgical requirements without exchanging instruments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20220249760A1Adjustable liposuction cannula

Publication Date: 2022.08.11 UNIV OF PITTSBURGH OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYST OF HIGHER EDUCATION

AI summary

A device for removing fat from a body can include a pair of nested hollow members that each has at least one opening and an adjustment means for adjusting the orientation of the nested hollow members from a first configuration to a second configuration to change an amount of overlap between openings in the nested hollow members. The nested members can be deformable to change the shape of the openings.