Length-Adjustable Tubular Retractor With Breakable Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical retractors lack the ability to be efficiently adjusted to fit the specific anatomical needs of a patient, often obstructing the surgical field and limiting access to the site of interest.
Innovation Solution
A length adjustable tubular retractor with scored and/or through slotted cylindrical body, allowing breakage at predetermined positions to customize its length, combined with a retractor handle and optional features for affixing lighting and suction sources, ensuring optimal fit and minimal obstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-length surgical retractor is used, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot be adjusted to fit different patient anatomies and often obstructs the surgical field
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor body is segmented into multiple breakable sections at predetermined locations, allowing the retractor to be divided into different lengths. This segmentation enables the retractor to be customized to fit various patient anatomies while maintaining a simple overall structure, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractor transitions from a fixed-length static structure to a dynamic, adjustable length structure through scored lines and breakable sections. The retractor can be manipulated to break at predetermined locations, changing its effective length to adapt to different surgical needs and patient anatomies.
2Ease of operation
If a longer retractor is used to access deep surgical sites, then access to the surgical site is improved, but the retractor obstructs more of the surgical field and is harder to maneuver
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor is divided into breakable segments at predetermined locations, allowing the surgeon to select the optimal length for each patient. This enables the use of a longer retractor when needed for deep surgical sites while avoiding excessive length that would obstruct the surgical field, thus optimizing ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractor's effective length parameter can be changed by breaking at different predetermined locations. This allows the retractor to be adjusted to the minimum necessary length for accessing the surgical site, reducing obstruction and improving maneuverability while maintaining adequate access.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fixed-length retractors are kept in inventory to fit different patient sizes, then adaptability to various anatomies is achieved, but device complexity and inventory management increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining multiple fixed-length retractors in inventory, the retractor is designed with segmented, breakable sections that allow a single retractor to be customized to different lengths. This eliminates the need for complex inventory management while maintaining adaptability to various patient anatomies.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractor is designed as a universal, multi-functional device that can serve multiple length requirements through its breakable sections. A single retractor model can fulfill the function of multiple different-length retractors, simplifying inventory management while maintaining versatility across different patient sizes.
4Strength
If the retractor body is made thicker to prevent breaking, then structural strength is improved, but the retractor cannot be broken at predetermined locations to adjust length
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor body has non-uniform structural properties: it is made thicker at certain locations to provide strength and resistance to breaking, while having scored lines or weakened sections at predetermined locations to allow controlled breaking. This local quality variation enables both structural strength and length adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
Scored lines or predetermined break points are created during manufacturing at specific locations along the retractor body. These preliminary structural modifications allow the retractor to be broken at controlled locations to adjust length, while the overall body remains thick and strong to prevent unintended breaking during use.
Data Source
AI summary
A disposable or reusable length adjustable tubular retractor, a surgical system, and a tube breaker for adjusting the length of the length adjustable tubular retractor are provided. The length adjustable tubular retractor includes a cylindrical body and at least one or a plurality of grooves or through slots or a combination thereof circumferentially disposed along the cylindrical body at predetermined positions. Each of the at least one or a plurality of grooves, through slots, or a combination thereof is configured such that the cylindrical body is breakable at each of the predetermined positions to form a size-selected length adjustable tubular retractor. A surgical system includes the length adjustable tubular retractor and a retractor handle.