Articulating Surgical Tool for Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments for minimally invasive procedures, such as microdiscectomy, lack dexterity and vision, often causing discomfort and inadvertent tissue damage due to their rigidity and limited flexibility, especially in the lumbar region of the spine.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a cannula with articulating and rotatable tools, including a shaft and working elements, controlled by an actuator system, allowing for improved manipulation and visualization within confined spaces, and potentially produced using additive manufacturing for reduced cost and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid surgical instruments are used, then structural strength is maintained, but dexterity and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument is divided into multiple segments or sections that can articulate relative to each other. The shaft includes multiple articulation points that allow independent movement of segments, enabling the instrument to navigate complex anatomical paths while maintaining overall structural integrity through controlled segmental motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system with controlled flexibility. Articulation mechanisms allow the shaft to change its configuration dynamically during the procedure, adapting to the specific anatomical requirements while maintaining sufficient rigidity for precise tool manipulation when needed.
2Ease of operation
If rigid tools are used to achieve required orientations, then positioning capability is improved, but tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating shaft provides dynamic positioning capability, allowing the instrument to achieve required orientations through flexible articulation rather than rigid positioning. This enables the distal end to reach difficult-to-access locations and assume various angles without forcing the entire instrument through restrictive anatomical pathways, thereby reducing trauma to surrounding tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft incorporates flexible structural elements that can bend and articulate to navigate around sensitive tissues. This flexibility allows the instrument to conform to the anatomical space without exerting excessive force on surrounding structures, reducing the risk of inadvertent damage while maintaining positioning capability.
3Ease of operation
If flexible instruments with large radius of curvature are used, then flexibility is improved, but applicability to small cavities is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the shaft into multiple articulated segments, the instrument achieves flexibility comparable to large-radius curved instruments but with a much smaller overall diameter. Each segment can articulate independently, allowing the instrument to navigate tight spaces and small cavities that would be inaccessible to traditional flexible instruments with large bending radii.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation mechanism introduces an additional dimensional degree of freedom to the instrument design. Rather than relying solely on the bending radius of a continuous flexible shaft, the segmented articulating structure allows angular adjustments at multiple points along the shaft length, enabling access to small cavities through multi-directional articulation rather than simple curvature.
4Ease of operation
If articulating tools are used, then dexterity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating shaft incorporates dynamic control mechanisms that allow the surgeon to manipulate the instrument's flexibility and articulation in real-time. This dynamic control system enables dexterous manipulation of the distal end while keeping the proximal portions more stable, providing enhanced dexterity without requiring complex mechanisms throughout the entire instrument length.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for performing surgical procedures. Such a system includes a cannula having a tubular body and a distal end is sized and configured to be inserted into a body cavity. The system further includes a tool passing through a first port at s proximal end of the cannula, extending through the cannula, and protruding from the distal end of the cannula through a second port. The tool has a working element on a distal end of a shaft thereof. The working element is capable of articulation relative to the shaft and rotation relative to the cannula, and the tool is adapted for translation and rotation relative to the cannula. The system further includes a control system and actuator that articulate the tip of the working element relative to the shaft of the tool.