Bendable Tissue Removal Head with Protective Cover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spinal stenosis decompression apparatuses face challenges in adapting to complex surgical sites due to fixed shapes, difficulty in navigating deep and multiple surgical sites, and risk of damaging surrounding tissues with non-adjustable and non-bendable designs, especially in minimally invasive surgeries.

Innovation Solution

A medical apparatus with an adjustable and bendable tissue removal head, featuring a protective cover and control mechanism to adjust the angle and position of the tissue removal head, and an eccentric design to reduce the distal end size, allowing for flexible operation and protection of unnecessary tissues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed-shaped working sheath is used, then the device structure is simple, but it is difficult to arrive at multiple deep surgical sites and adapt to complex outer shapes through minimally invasive channels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to surgical sitesVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The working sheath is designed with a bendable section containing multiple bending units that can be dynamically adjusted during surgery. Each bending unit includes movable connection components that allow the sheath to change its curvature and orientation, enabling it to reach multiple deep surgical sites and adapt to complex anatomical shapes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The working sheath is segmented into multiple sections including a straight section, a bendable section with multiple bending units, and a working end section. This segmentation allows different parts of the sheath to perform different functions - the straight section provides structural support, the bendable section provides adaptability, and the working end performs surgical operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed shield is used, then the device structure is simple, but it is difficult to adapt to different surgical situations with different requirements for shield direction and configuration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to surgical situationsVSAvoidshield structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shield is designed as a movable component that can be adjusted relative to the working end of the sheath. The shield includes a movable connection structure that allows it to be positioned at different angles and orientations according to surgical requirements, providing adaptability to different surgical situations while maintaining a simple basic structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the distal end of the apparatus has a larger diameter, then the tissue removal head can be better protected, but it is difficult to navigate through tiny working channels in minimally invasive surgery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of surrounding tissuesVSAvoiddistal end diameter
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The protective structure is segmented into a shield component and a protective cover component. The shield provides lateral protection while the protective cover extends to provide distal protection. This segmentation allows protection functionality to be distributed across multiple smaller components that can navigate through tiny working channels while still providing comprehensive protection of surrounding tissues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables flexible and precise tissue removal with reduced surgical risks by allowing the tissue removal head to bend and adjust according to surgical needs, protecting unnecessary tissues, and reducing the size of the apparatus for easier navigation through minimally invasive channels.

Implementation Method 1

the fixed bending part is made of elastic material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3391839B1Adjustable and bendable tissue removal apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 NINGBO HICREN BIOTECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP3391839B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3391839B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3391839B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An adjustable and bendable tissue removal apparatus comprises a tissue removal head (1), an adjustable and bendable unit (11), a rotation shaft (12), and a straight adjusting tube (31). The adjustable and bendable unit (11) comprises a fixed bending part (13) at a distal end, and the fixed bending part (13) is made of elastic material. The rotation shaft (12) is arranged in the adjustable and bendable unit (11), and has a distal end connected to the tissue removal head (1). The straight adjustment tube (31) is sleeved outside the adjustable and bendable unit (11). The adjustable and bendable tissue removal apparatus further comprises a protection device, and the protection device comprises a protective cover (22), a protection control member (23), and a control handle (36). The protective cover (22) is arc sheet-shaped. The protective cover (22) is connected to a distal end of the protection control component (23), and the distal end of the protection control component (23) is flexible and has a ring-shaped structure. The protective cover (22) can be moved axially or rotated by operating the control handle (36). A distance between an inner wall of the protective cover (22) and an axis of the tissue removal head (1) is greater than a radius of the tissue removal head (1). An angle of the tissue removal head (1) is adjustable. The tissue removal head (1) has superior adaptability, and a side thereof is provided with the protective cover (22), thus preventing removal of tissues unnecessary to be removed by adjusting a position of the protective cover (22) relative to the tissue removal head (1).