Articulated Abdominal Surgery Limb for Single-Incision Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic and laparoscopic surgical systems require multiple incisions for abdominal surgery, increasing the risk of infection and hernias, and hernias, especially when using stick-arms with limited flexibility, making certain surgeries impossible.
Innovation Solution
The use of articulated mechanical limbs with flexible portions and a linear portion, coupled to a mount outside the body, allows for a single incision via a Pfannenstiel, sub-Pfannenstiel, or umbilical incision, enabling the limbs to bend and retroflex or antigrade bending within the body to reach surgical zones, reducing the risk of infection and hernias.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple stick-arms are used for robotic surgery, then surgical coverage of the abdominal cavity is improved, but the number of incisions increases leading to higher infection and hernia risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple surgical functions into a single articulated mechanical limb that can perform multiple tasks through one incision site, eliminating the need for multiple separate incisions while maintaining comprehensive surgical coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical limb is divided into multiple articulated segments with flexible portions that can bend and rotate, allowing each segment to be independently positioned to access different areas of the abdominal cavity through a single incision
2Device complexity
If stick-arms with limited flexibility are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but certain surgeries become impossible due to inability to reach surgical zones
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical limb transitions from a static, rigid structure to a dynamic, articulated structure with multiple degrees of freedom, including flexible portions that can bend and rotate to adapt to different surgical configurations and reach previously inaccessible zones
3Ease of operation
If multiple incisions are made for robotic surgery, then access to surgical zones is improved, but scarring and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple surgical access requirements into a single incision site, where the articulated mechanical limb's flexible portions can orient themselves to reach different surgical zones, thereby reducing the number of incisions and associated scarring while maintaining full surgical access
Data Source
AI summary
A method of conducting abdominal surgery in a surgical zone. The method includes creating an incision at a sub-Pfannenstiel region of the abdomen. A mechanical limb is inserted into a body of a subject through the incision, where the mechanical limb comprises a linear portion, at least part of which extends outside the body, and a tool coupled to a distal end of the mechanical limb. The mechanical limb is manipulated within the body so that the tool contacts the abdominal target site. The manipulating of the mechanical limb does not affect any portion of the mechanical limb disposed outside the body of the subject. Using the tool, the abdominal surgery is conducted within the surgical zone.