Auxiliary Electrosurgical Return Rivet for Tissue Guard Grounding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive surgical procedures face challenges in maneuverability and visualization due to restricted access, particularly when removing large tissue specimens, which often require breakdown into smaller pieces for removal.
Innovation Solution
An auxiliary return system for bipolar electrosurgical devices, featuring a tissue guard with an elongated channel and an electrically conductive rivet that secures a ground wire, providing electrical continuity and facilitating the grounding of electrosurgical instruments, thereby enhancing the rigidity and protection of the tissue guard during specimen removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If minimally invasive surgical procedures are used, then patient trauma and recovery time are reduced, but maneuverability and visualization are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue guard is inserted through the minimally invasive opening and nested within the surgical site, creating a protected workspace that allows manipulation of electrosurgical instruments while maintaining small access points. The guard structure provides internal support and protection without requiring large external incisions.
2Loss of time
If large tissue specimens are removed intact, then surgical time is reduced, but restricted access prevents removal
Solution Approach 1:
Large tissue specimens are segmented into smaller pieces within the protected space of the tissue guard, allowing removal through the restricted minimally invasive opening. The guard provides a stable platform for cutting and separating tissue into manageable fragments that can pass through the small access point.
3Ease of operation
If electrosurgical instruments are used for tissue breakdown, then specimen removal is facilitated, but thermal and electrical energy may harm surrounding tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue guard acts as an intermediary protective barrier between the electrosurgical instruments and surrounding healthy tissues. It confines the thermal and electrical energy to the intended treatment zone, preventing collateral damage to adjacent structures while allowing effective tissue cutting and breakdown.
4Strength
If tissue guard rigidity is increased to improve protection, then structural support is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue guard is constructed from composite materials that provide high strength and rigidity for structural support and protection, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The use of specialized materials allows the guard to be both protective and manufacturable without excessive complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables efficient removal of large tissue specimens by ensuring electrical continuity and protecting surrounding tissues from thermal and electrical energy, improving the rigidity and robustness of the tissue guard, thus addressing the challenges of restricted access in minimally invasive surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
An electrically conductive rivet is included having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the rivet configured to engage the inner peripheral surface of the body and the distal end of the rivet configured to engage the outer peripheral surface of the body to secure the rivet within the pocket. The distal end of the rivet includes an electrical connector configured to electrically and mechanically engage the ground wire to provide electrical continuity between the ground wire and the rivet.
Data Source
AI summary
An auxiliary return system for use with a bipolar electrosurgical device includes a tissue guard defining open proximal and distal ends and a body extending therebetween. The body includes outer and inner peripheral surfaces, the inner peripheral surface defining a lumen extending between the open proximal and distal ends, the outer peripheral surface including an elongated channel defined therein configured to receive a ground wire, a distal end of the elongated channel includes a pocket defined between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the body. An electrically conductive rivet includes a proximal end configured to engage the inner peripheral surface of the body and a distal end configured to engage the outer peripheral surface of the body to secure the rivet within the pocket. The distal end including a connector configured to engage the ground wire to provide electrical continuity between the ground wire and the rivet.