Bladeless Obturator with Helicoidal Tip for Trocar

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing trocars face challenges in penetrating tissues while maintaining a seal, leading to potential organ damage, difficult handling, and compromised post-operative healing due to the use of cutting blades or the need for preliminary incisions in bladeless models.

Innovation Solution

A bladeless obturator with a helicoidal tip that follows a 30° to 60° rotation from base to vertex, misaligned from the longitudinal axis by 20% to 75% of the tip's radius, and a ergonomic cap-body assembly with an elastic U-shaped connection and self-centring seal device for improved control and trauma reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If cutting blades are used on the obturator tip, then tissue penetration is improved, but the risk of organ damage and vessel lesions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue penetrationVSAvoidorgan damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the cutting blades from the obturator tip, extracting the harmful element while retaining the core function of tissue penetration through a bladeless design that relies on dilating force instead of cutting action

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the tip by introducing a specific helicoidal shape with defined rotation angles (30°-60°) and offset distances (20%-75% of tip radius), transforming the penetration mechanism from cutting to controlled dilation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If bladeless obturator is used, then organ damage risk is reduced, but preliminary incision is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorgan damage riskVSAvoidinsertion simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the tip geometry with specific helicoidal parameters (rotation angle 30°-60°, offset 20%-75% of radius) that enable the bladeless obturator to penetrate tissues directly without requiring preliminary incisions, while still maintaining safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a helicoidal (curved/spiral) shape to the tip instead of a straight or simple conical form, allowing the tip to progressively dilate tissues along a rotational path that facilitates penetration without cutting or pre-incision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Device complexity

If traditional cap-body assembly is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but controllability and ergonomics are poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidhead controllability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the cap-body assembly into separate components (cap with elastic connection, body with seal device) that can be assembled and disassembled, providing both simplicity and improved ergonomic control through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an elastic U-shaped connection that allows dynamic movement and adjustment of the cap relative to the body, enhancing ergonomics and controllability while maintaining ease of assembly through the elastic nature of the connection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If obturator damages tissues during penetration, then insertion is facilitated, but seal properties deteriorate and healing becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion facilitationVSAvoidseal property
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the penetration mechanism from tissue-cutting to controlled dilation using the helicoidal tip geometry, which expands tissues in a controlled manner that preserves tissue integrity and maintains seal properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of tissue damage into a beneficial controlled dilation process, where the helicoidal tip's mechanical action creates predictable tissue displacement that actually improves seal formation rather than compromising it

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP2432408B1Obturator for trocar and related trocar
Publication Date: 2016.03.30 AB MEDICA HLDG
  • EP2432408B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2a
  • EP2432408B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~2e
  • EP2432408B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention concerns a bladeless obturator for trocar, ending at a distal end with a tip (37) having a base and a vertex (70), characterised in that the tip (37) follows a helicoidal rotation from the base to the vertex (70) ranging from 30° to 60°. The present invention further concerns a trocar provided with such obturator.