Adjustable Surgical Retractor with Dovetail Guide Blades

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surgical retractors with adjustable blades face high production costs, difficulty in adjusting working length during operations, risk of tissue damage, and cleaning challenges due to complex two-part configurations and spindle mechanisms, as well as limited shape variability.

Innovation Solution

A retractor with one-piece blades that slide linearly within a dovetail guide, allowing adjustable gripping range through a releasable fixing device with a catch mechanism, enabling varying working lengths without altering blade length and allowing for different blade shapes and sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If two-part blades with spindle mechanism are used to adjust gripping range, then adjustable working length is achieved, but production costs increase and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustable working lengthVSAvoidblade configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is segmented into a fixed part (integrated with spreader arm) and a movable part (detachable blade section), allowing adjustment of working length by positioning the movable part at different locations along the spreader arm while maintaining a simpler overall structure compared to two-part blades with spindle mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blade configuration is made dynamic through the ability to reposition the movable blade section along the spreader arm and fix it at different positions, enabling adjustment of gripping range without requiring complex spindle mechanisms or multiple separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If two-part blades with spindle mechanism are used, then adjustable working length is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in adjustment during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustable working lengthVSAvoidblade adjustment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is divided into fixed and movable sections that can be easily repositioned relative to each other along the spreader arm and secured with a fixing device, allowing quick adjustment during surgery without requiring specialized tools or complex manipulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blade adjustment mechanism is designed to be self-contained with the movable blade section and fixing device integrated directly onto the spreader arm, allowing the surgeon to perform adjustments independently during the procedure without requiring additional tools or assistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If two-part blades with spindle mechanism are used, then adjustable working length is achieved, but risk of tissue damage increases due to ability to exert great force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustable working lengthVSAvoidtissue damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The blade system allows dynamic adjustment of the movable blade section to achieve the required working length while the fixing device secures the position, enabling force application at optimized lengths that reduce the risk of unintentional tissue damage while maintaining the ability to exert necessary force for the surgical procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If two-part blades with spindle mechanism are used, then adjustable working length is achieved, but ease of repair deteriorates due to cleaning difficulties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustable working lengthVSAvoidcleaning ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is segmented into a fixed part and a movable part that can be easily separated from the spreader arm, allowing complete disassembly for thorough cleaning without requiring disassembly of complex spindle mechanisms or threaded connections where impurities can become lodged

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The movable blade section is designed as a simple, easily replaceable component that can be quickly removed and cleaned or replaced if necessary, reducing the need for complex cleaning procedures and minimizing the risk of contamination from difficult-to-reach areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

5Ease of manufacture

If symmetrically shaped blades are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability deteriorates when opposite sides of wound are at different anatomical heights

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidanatomical height adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The blade system allows different sections of the blade (fixed and movable parts) to have different characteristics, and the movable part can be positioned at different locations to provide locally optimized gripping ranges for each side of the wound, accommodating different anatomical heights while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing of individual components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9433405B2Retractor with adjustable blades

Publication Date: 2016.09.06 KARL STORZ SE & CO KG

AI summary

A retractor with at least two spreader arms that can be displaced relative to one another and can be blocked by a blocking device and on their end sections are provided with blades that can be displaced in their gripping ranges. The blades are of unit construction and are inserted so that they can slide in linear guides forms from spreader arms in such a manner that can be fixed in a range of freely chosen positions each corresponding to various griping ranges by means of a releasable fixing device.