Bending Catheter Tissue Removal for Spinal Stenosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for removing tissues that press nerves, such as those in spinal stenosis, are limited by their inability to effectively address three-dimensional tissue removal within narrow spaces, leading to incomplete treatment, high recurrence rates, and increased patient discomfort and recovery time.
Innovation Solution
A tissue removal device with a bending unit and tissue removal unit that allows for controlled bending and straight reciprocation of a scraper, enabling precise targeting and removal of tissues while minimizing nerve injury, and featuring a housing design for easy operation and reduced patient discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a straight catheter is used to remove tissue in narrow spaces, then the device can be inserted easily, but it cannot effectively scrape three-dimensional tissues inside and outside the intervertebral foramen
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates a bending unit with multiple bending blocks that can be dynamically adjusted from a straight configuration during insertion to a bent configuration during tissue removal. The bending blocks are actuated by control wires that allow the catheter to adapt its shape to access three-dimensional tissues while maintaining ease of insertion in the straight state.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is divided into multiple bending blocks that can be independently controlled to bend at different segments. This segmentation allows the catheter to navigate narrow spaces in a straight configuration while being able to bend at specific segments to access tissues inside and outside the intervertebral foramen, thereby resolving the contradiction between insertion ease and tissue removal versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple instruments and endoscopes are inserted to reach the diseased part, then the diseased tissue can be accessed, but the operation becomes complicated and recovery period increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the functions of multiple separate instruments into a single integrated catheter device. The catheter integrates the bending mechanism, tissue removal unit with scraper, and control systems into one device, eliminating the need for multiple separate instruments and endoscopes. This merging reduces operational complexity while maintaining the ability to access diseased parts through the bending capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the catheter diameter is increased to remove all tissues, then complete tissue removal is achieved, but patient discomfort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter uses a dynamic bending mechanism with controllable bending blocks that allow a thin catheter to access three-dimensional tissues by bending at different angles and positions. This eliminates the need to increase catheter diameter, as the bending capability enables the same thin catheter to reach tissues inside and outside the intervertebral foramen, thereby reducing patient discomfort while achieving complete tissue removal.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tissue removal device includes a housing, a catheter extending from the housing and configured to be inserted into the body of a patient, a bending unit including a plurality of bending blocks that is disposed at a front end portion of the catheter and at least one or more wires that control a motion direction of the bending blocks, and a tissue removal unit disposed at the front end portion of the catheter and configured to come in contact with a tissue to be removed.