Blood Vessel Preparation Platform for Grafting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current methods for preparing harvested blood vessels for grafting during coronary artery bypass surgery are cumbersome and time-consuming, often requiring an assistant and halting the surgical flow, which is costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an elongated platform with mounting flanges for a syringe and longitudinally spaced clamp holders to immobilize and inflate the blood vessel, allowing for temporary occlusion and defect repair without an assistant, using spring-loaded bulldog clamps and a syringe to deliver fluid for inflation and distention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the surgeon harvests the vessel and then prepares it for grafting with an assistant, then the vessel preparation can be performed, but the flow of the operation is halted, which is time consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the surgeon to perform vessel preparation independently without requiring an assistant. The integrated platform with built-in clamps, syringe holder, and illumination allows the surgeon to self-service the preparation tasks that previously required additional personnel, thereby maintaining continuous operation flow
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functions (clamping, inflation, illumination, vessel holding) are merged into a single integrated platform. This consolidation allows the surgeon to perform all preparation steps using one device, eliminating the need to switch between multiple tools or wait for assistant intervention
2Productivity
If the surgeon performs vessel preparation alone, then the operation flow is maintained, but the preparation task becomes more difficult without assistant help
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is designed as a multi-functional device that combines vessel clamping, inflation, illumination, and positioning capabilities. This universal design provides the surgeon with all necessary functions in one device, making solo operation feasible without compromising ease of use
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanical structure (the platform with integrated components) that mediates between the surgeon and the vessel preparation tasks. This intermediary provides mechanical advantage and coordinated control, reducing the difficulty of performing complex preparation maneuvers alone
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional vessel preparation methods are used, then the procedure can be completed, but it requires additional personnel and increases operational cost
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the vessel preparation function from the main surgical procedure, providing a dedicated self-contained platform. This segmentation allows the preparation task to be performed independently with specialized equipment, reducing overall system complexity requirements compared to requiring multiple personnel
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 a surgeon to efficiently prepare a blood vessel for grafting using both hands, reducing time and cost by allowing for independent immobilization and repair of the vessel, thus streamlining the coronary artery bypass procedure.
Implementation Method 1
a syringe that is supported by the mounting flange for delivering the fluid into a proximal end of the blood vessel held between the vessel clamps to inflate the blood vessel
Implementation Method 2
Each vessel clamp is a spring loaded bulldog clamp configured for reception within the socket of a clamp holder
Implementation Method 3
providing temporary occlusion of the blood vessel after it has been inflated by a fluid from the syringe
Data Source
AI summary
A system for preparing a harvested blood vessel for use as a graft during a coronary artery bypass procedure, which includes an elongated platform, a mounting flange extending upwardly from a top surface of the platform adjacent a proximal end thereof for supporting a syringe in a fixed position, and a pair of longitudinally spaced apart clamp holders operatively associated with the top surface of the platform, each clamp holder configured to support a respective vessel clamp, wherein the vessel clamps supported within the clamp holders are adapted to hold a harvested blood vessel immobile therebetween so it can be prepared for grafting.