Cannula Camera with Prism for Brain Hemorrhage Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive brain surgery techniques face challenges in accurately visualizing and removing hemorrhagic stroke-induced blood masses due to outdated imaging and reliance on costly neuro-navigation systems.
Innovation Solution
A cannula with a camera mounted on its proximal end, equipped with a prism or reflector to provide clear visualization of the surgical site within the cannula lumen, along with an obturator tip for gentle tissue dissection and illumination, allowing for improved visualization and navigation during surgery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a camera is mounted on the proximal end of the cannula to enable real-time visualization, then surgical precision and navigation accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is nested within the cannula structure, specifically mounted on the proximal end of the cannula body. This integration allows the camera to be part of the cannula assembly without requiring separate external imaging equipment, thereby improving visualization while managing device complexity through compact integration.
Solution Approach 2:
A transparent obturator is introduced as an intermediary element that allows optical transmission from the distal tip through the cannula lumen to the camera. The obturator's transparency enables light transmission while maintaining the structural integrity needed for tissue dissection, solving the contradiction between visualization needs and structural requirements.
2Loss of information
If a transparent obturator is used to allow visualization through the tip, then real-time visualization of tissue dissection is improved, but the obturator material selection becomes more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The obturator exhibits local quality differentiation where the distal tip portion is made transparent or translucent to enable visualization, while other portions may have different properties optimized for structural strength or flexibility. This allows the obturator to simultaneously provide visual transmission and mechanical functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The obturator may be constructed from composite materials or coated with transparent materials that combine the optical transmission properties needed for visualization with the mechanical properties required for tissue dissection and structural integrity, thus resolving the material selection constraint.
3Illumination intensity
If the camera is positioned to view into the cannula lumen, then visualization of the surgical site is improved, but obstruction of the lumen by the camera increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is positioned in the proximal transverse plane of the cannula body rather than extending into the distal lumen space. This dimensional repositioning allows the camera to view into the lumen through optical paths (using the transparent obturator as a mediator) without physically obstructing the lumen passage, thus maintaining both visualization capability and lumen patency.
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 enables precise visualization and navigation during minimally invasive brain surgery, reducing the need for costly neuro-navigation systems and minimizing tissue damage, thereby improving surgical outcomes for hemorrhagic stroke patients.
Implementation Method 1
A prism, reflector or other suitable optical element is oriented between the camera and the lumen of the cannula to afford the camera a view into the cannula
Data Source
AI summary
A cannula system and method for accessing a blood mass in the brain. The system comprises a cannula with a camera mounted on the proximal end of the cannula with a view into the cannula lumen and the surgical field below the lumen. A prism, reflector or other suitable optical element is oriented between the camera and the lumen of the cannula to afford the camera a view into the cannula while minimizing obstruction of the lumen. The system may also include an obturator with a small diameter shaft and a large diameter tip which is optically transmissive, so that a surgeon inserting or manipulating the assembly can easily see that the obturator tip is near brain tissue (which is white) or blood (which is red).