Surgical Burr With Segmented Slots for Debris Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current arthroscopic rotary burrs face issues with debris clogging due to limited space between inner and outer tubes, leading to poor visibility and increased procedure time, as well as potential damage to surrounding healthy tissue from the cutting surface.
Innovation Solution
A motorized rotary burr with a conical abrading section and a clear sheath or hood, featuring vertically elongated slots on the outer cannulated shaft to facilitate debris and fluid aspiration, along with a design that minimizes obstruction and promotes effective debris removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a small gap is provided within the abrading device for debris removal, then accessibility through small cannulae is improved, but debris removal effectiveness deteriorates leading to clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional gap concept to a three-dimensional slot structure. The slots are vertically elongated features that provide volumetric debris removal pathways rather than relying solely on horizontal gap clearance, enabling effective debris ejection through the outer tube while maintaining compact overall dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The outer tube is segmented with multiple vertically elongated slots distributed along its length. This segmentation creates multiple independent debris ejection pathways, preventing clogging by distributing the debris flow across several channels rather than relying on a single gap or opening
2Productivity
If the cutting surface is positioned close to the tissue for effective abrading, then productivity is improved, but damage to surrounding healthy tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clear sheath or hood acts as an intermediary structure between the cutting surface and surrounding healthy tissue. It provides a protective barrier that confines the abrading action to the target tissue while preventing direct contact with adjacent healthy structures, and its transparency allows visual monitoring of the cutting zone
Solution Approach 2:
The clear sheath is strategically positioned only in the vicinity of the cutting surface where tissue interaction occurs. This localized protection approach provides shielding exactly where needed without interfering with the overall abrading operation or requiring extensive modification of the entire instrument
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a clear sheath or hood is added to minimize obstruction and protect healthy tissue, then protection and visibility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clear sheath or hood is implemented as a thin-walled transparent structure that provides protective and visual functions with minimal material and structural complexity. This thin-film approach achieves the desired protection and visibility while adding minimal weight, bulk, or mechanical complexity to the overall instrument design
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
Enhances visibility during surgery by reducing clogging and minimizing damage to healthy tissue, allowing for efficient and unobstructed burr operation with improved debris removal.
Implementation Method 1
removal of debris from the field is accomplished by aspirating debris from the surgical site via an inner rotating lumen, which is connected to an external vacuum source
Data Source
AI summary
An improved motorized burr instrument for operation on tissue at a desired surgical site surrounding by fluid, the motorized burr instrument being operable with a variable speed motor at a rotary drive coupler with a hub extending therefrom, an outer sheath housing a rotating member extending between the rotary drive coupler and a burr having a cutting edge with at least one radial projection joining a leading and a trailing edge and rotating said fluid through the outer sheath as the cutting edge is rotated.