Articulatable Cutting Member for Endoscopic Tissue Resection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic tissue resection procedures within organs like the uterus face challenges in effectively distending and maintaining a clear working space, especially when using fluid distension methods, which can lead to difficulties in visualizing and efficiently removing tissue debris.
Innovation Solution
A tissue resecting device with an articulatable cutting member featuring a core with radially extending blades and an elongated outer shaft, allowing for rotational and articulatory movements between neutral and articulated positions, facilitating tissue cutting and fluid management through a system of slits and articulation cables, enabling precise tissue removal and fluid evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a tissue resection device uses a fixed cutting member, then the device structure is simple, but the device cannot effectively access and resect tissue in difficult-to-reach areas of the uterus
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting member is designed to be articulatable relative to the longitudinal axis of the device, transitioning between a neutral position (aligned with the axis) and an articulated position (offset from the axis). This dynamic repositioning capability enables the cutting member to access tissue in difficult-to-reach areas while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cutting member is designed to articulate, then the device can access difficult-to-reach tissue areas, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional segments: an elongated outer shaft, a cutting member with multiple blades, and an articulation mechanism. This segmentation allows the cutting member to be independently articulated relative to the outer shaft, providing maneuverability while keeping each component's design relatively simple and manageable.
3Productivity
If the cutting member rotates to cut tissue, then tissue resection is effective, but debris removal becomes difficult when the uterus is distended with fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a fluid management system that acts as an intermediary between the cutting action and debris removal. Fluid flows through the device to flush debris from the cutting site, facilitating easier removal of tissue fragments even when the uterus is distended, thereby maintaining effective tissue resection without compromising debris evacuation.
Data Source
AI summary
An end effector assembly of a tissue resecting device includes a cutting member and an elongated outer shaft. The cutting member includes a core defining a passage and a plurality of blades extending radially outward from the core. Adjacent blades define a gap therebetween. The plurality of blades defines at least one window in communication with the passage of the core. The elongated outer shaft includes a tool portion rotatably receiving the plurality of blades of the cutting member therein. The tool portion defines a lateral opening such that the plurality of blades of the cutting member rotatably received in the tool portion is in registration with the lateral opening. The cutting member is transitionable between a neutral position, in which, the cutting member defines a longitudinal axis, and an articulated position, in which, at least a portion of the cutting member is offset from the longitudinal axis.