Bronchoscope Rail System for Single-Practitioner Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bronchoscopy procedures require at least two people to manipulate the bronchoscope and associated instruments, making it difficult to perform one-handed or single-practitioner procedures, and complicating the insertion and operation of instruments due to the need for multiple hands.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system that includes a bronchoscope, an extended working channel, and a valve system allowing for fluid communication, enabling a single practitioner to manipulate a bronchoscope and associated instruments, including a catheter and surgical instrument, while applying fluids to a target site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple hands are used to manipulate the bronchoscope and instruments, then the stability and control of the procedure is improved, but the device complexity and procedural cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A rail system acts as an intermediary mechanical structure that couples the bronchoscope to a stable support surface. The rail provides a fixed reference frame that allows the bronchoscope to be stabilized externally, reducing the need for multiple hands to manually hold and stabilize the device during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilization function is extracted from the human operator's hands and transferred to the rail support system. By removing the burden of stabilization from the operator, the system enables single-handed manipulation of instruments while maintaining procedural stability through the mechanical support structure.
2Ease of operation
If multiple hands are used to insert and actuate instruments, then the ease of operation is improved, but the productivity and efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization task is extracted from the operator's hands and assigned to the rail system. This frees up the operator's hands to focus solely on instrument insertion and actuation, improving both ease of operation and productivity by eliminating the need for coordinated multi-person manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The rail system provides self-service stabilization, automatically maintaining the bronchoscope in position without requiring active manipulation by multiple operators. This allows the procedure to be performed more efficiently with fewer hands involved in the critical instrument manipulation tasks.
3Ease of operation
If the bronchoscope is released to insert instruments, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability of the bronchoscope position deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rail system serves as a mechanical intermediary that maintains bronchoscope position independently of operator hand placement. The bronchoscope is coupled to the stable rail structure, which prevents drift or movement when the operator releases the device to insert instruments, thereby maintaining positional stability throughout the procedure.
4Device complexity
If instruments are held unsupported, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to shape retention issues
Solution Approach 1:
The rail system provides a mechanical intermediary support structure that stabilizes long, slender instruments during manipulation. By coupling instruments to the rigid rail framework, the system maintains instrument shape and positioning without requiring complex active holding mechanisms, enabling faster and more precise instrument insertion.
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 allows for single-handed or single-practitioner operation of bronchoscopy procedures, improving efficiency and reducing the risk of errors associated with multi-person manipulation, while enabling simultaneous instrument manipulation and fluid application.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid is able to flow from the valve and through the extended working channel such that the fluid travels within an annular area surrounding the elongated surgical instrument positioned within the extended working channel
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical system includes a bronchoscope, an extended working channel defining an elongated passageway and adapted to extend through the bronchoscope, and a valve in fluid communication with the passageway of the extended working channel. The surgical system further includes an elongated surgical instrument configured and dimensioned to be inserted through the extended working channel. During operation, a fluid is able to flow from the valve and through the extended working channel such that the fluid travels within an annular area surrounding the elongated surgical instrument positioned within the extended working channel.