Arthroscopic Port Introduction System for Small Joint Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In arthroscopic procedures, particularly in small joint spaces like the TMJ, proper placement of arthroscopes is challenging due to access issues and the size of the joint space, leading to difficulties for practitioners and potential patient injuries from multiple attempts or over-penetration.
Innovation Solution
An arthroscopic port introduction system comprising an elongate hollow introducing needle, stylet, and enlarging shaft, which allows for initial placement of a small-bore needle followed by progressive enlargement without withdrawing the smaller-bore devices, ensuring accurate placement of larger-bore devices and maintaining access through an arthroscopic port sheath.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a large-bore arthroscope is used to provide sufficient working space and instrument access, then the arthroscope diameter increases, but this causes difficulty in placement into small joint spaces and increases the risk of patient injury
Solution Approach 1:
The introduction system is divided into multiple segments with progressively larger diameters: an initial small-bore introducing needle for placement, followed by an enlarging shaft, and finally the large-bore arthroscope. Each segment can be introduced sequentially through the previous one, allowing the arthroscope to be placed into small joint spaces without requiring the entire assembly to have large diameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a nested configuration where the enlarging shaft is disposed within the introducing needle, and the arthroscope is disposed within the enlarging shaft. This nesting allows progressively larger components to be introduced through progressively smaller openings, resolving the contradiction between requiring large internal volume and needing small placement diameter.
2Measurement precision
If multiple attempts are made to penetrate the joint space to achieve proper placement, then placement accuracy may improve, but this increases the risk of patient injury from multiple penetration attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary placement of the introducing needle with a small-bore diameter that is safe for initial penetration. Once properly positioned, the needle serves as a guide for introducing progressively larger components. This preliminary action establishes a safe entry point before attempting to accommodate larger arthroscopes, reducing the need for multiple harmful penetration attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The introducing needle acts as an intermediary tool that facilitates the introduction of larger-bore arthroscopes into joint spaces. By using the needle as a preliminary guide and support structure, the system enables safe placement of larger instruments without requiring multiple separate penetration attempts, thereby reducing patient injury risk while maintaining placement accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If the arthroscope diameter is reduced to facilitate placement into small joint spaces, then placement ease improves, but this reduces the internal volume available for introducing necessary arthroscopic tools and scopes
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the introduction pathway into distinct stages with different diameter requirements. The initial introducing needle has small diameter for ease of placement, while subsequent enlarging shafts and the final arthroscope progressively increase in diameter. This segmentation allows the arthroscope to have sufficient internal volume for tools while being introduced through a small initial opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The nested arrangement of components with progressively larger diameters allows the arthroscope to achieve sufficient internal volume for instrument accommodation while being introduced through a small-bore initial pathway. The enlarging shaft acts as an intermediate structure that bridges the small entry opening and the larger arthroscope bore.
4Device complexity
If a single-step introduction method is used, then the procedure is simpler, but this makes it difficult to maintain proper placement when transitioning from small-bore to large-bore devices
Solution Approach 1:
The introduction procedure is segmented into multiple sequential steps: first introducing the small-bore needle, then introducing the enlarging shaft through the needle, and finally introducing the arthroscope through the enlarging shaft. Each step maintains placement reliability by using the previous component as a guide and support structure, while the modular nature of segmentation keeps each individual step relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The small-bore introducing needle performs the preliminary action of establishing the initial placement pathway. This preliminary placement serves as a reliable foundation for subsequent introduction of larger components, as the needle is already positioned correctly before the arthroscope is introduced. This staged approach maintains reliability while managing complexity through preparation.
Data Source
AI summary
An arthroscopic port introduction system includes an elongate hollow introducing needle and an elongate stylet sized and adapted to be disposed within the elongate hollow introducing needle together forming a single tissue-penetrating tip. The system also includes an elongate hollow enlarging shaft adapted to be disposed over the elongate hollow introducing needle. An operative tissue-penetrating length of the elongate hollow introducing needle is exposed beyond a distal end of the elongate hollow enlarging shaft. The elongate hollow introducing needle can be removed in a proximal direction from the elongate hollow enlarging shaft. An arthroscopic port sheath is disposed over the elongate hollow enlarging shaft and an operative tissue-penetrating length of the elongate hollow enlarging shaft is exposed beyond a distal end of the arthroscopic port sheath. The elongate hollow enlarging shaft can be removed in a proximal direction from the arthroscopic port sheath.