Pre-Shaped Cautery Wire Tip for Uniform Graft Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cautery devices often result in non-uniform, misshaped, and inconsistently sized holes in medical grafts due to manual operation and temperature control issues, leading to charring, burning, or ignition, and pose challenges in safely removing cut portions without contamination.
Innovation Solution
A cautery device tip portion with a wire shaped to match the desired hole, featuring a retrieval mechanism with barbs or suction to retain the cut portion, and a stabilizer to maintain spacing, ensuring accurate cuts and preventing overheating, while allowing for multiple cuts without additional equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a metal tip is heated to high temperatures for cauterization, then cutting effectiveness is improved, but the medium may char, burn, and/or ignite
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-forms the metal tip into a specific shape (circle, oval, diamond, etc.) that corresponds to the desired hole perimeter. This preliminary shaping allows the tip to create uniform holes without requiring manual maneuvering, thereby reducing overheating time and preventing charring and burning while maintaining cutting effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-shaped metal tip enables the cutting action to be completed rapidly by simply pressing the tip against the medium. This rushes through the cutting process quickly, minimizing the time the medium is exposed to high temperatures and thus preventing charring and burning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual maneuvering of the metal tip is used to form desired hole shapes, then flexibility is improved, but the opportunity for overheating and burning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal tip is pre-formed into various shapes (circle, oval, diamond, etc.) to correspond to desired hole perimeters. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual maneuvering during surgery, reducing overheating time while maintaining the ability to create different hole shapes by selecting the appropriate pre-shaped tip.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the hole creation function into multiple pre-shaped metal tips, each designed for a specific hole shape. This segmentation allows for quick selection of the appropriate tip shape without manual maneuvering, reducing overheating time while maintaining versatility.
3Productivity
If the cut portion falls into the surgical area, then complete graft cutting is achieved, but contamination and embolization risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a retrieval portion as an intermediary component that attaches to the distal end of the metal tip. This retrieval portion captures the cut portion of the graft as it is being cut, preventing it from falling into the surgical area or bloodstream, thus eliminating contamination and embolization risks while maintaining complete cutting.
4Power
If different housing sizes with different power supplies are used, then power capability is improved, but the risk of incorrect power selection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color-coding for different metal tip shapes and sizes to provide visual confirmation and ease of selection. This color-coding system helps ensure the correct tip (with appropriate power requirements) is selected, reducing the risk of incorrect power selection while maintaining the ability to provide different power capabilities for different cutting needs.
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 solution enables precise, uniform hole creation in medical grafts without burning or charring, and facilitates safe removal of cut portions, reducing surgical time and contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
Some embodiments of the present invention utilize high resistance alloys for the at least one wire such that the at least one wire may heat to a temperature high enough to melt the medium, while maintaining the temperature of the wire below a burning temperature of the medium.
Implementation Method 2
The retrieval portion may comprise a rough surface (e.g., barbs, divots, or other protrusions) that are configured to interact with and retain the medium during and after the application of heat to the cut the medium.
Data Source
AI summary
A tip portion for a cautery device defining a device axis is provided herein. The tip portion comprises a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from one another. The tip portion further comprises at least one wire comprising a first end in electrical connection with the first electrode, a second end in electrical connection with the second electrode, and a central portion in electrical communication with the first portion and the second portion. The central portion of the at least one wire defines a cautery shape comprising a continuous perimeter extending in a cautery plane, wherein the cautery plane is perpendicular to the device axis. A retrieval portion may be provided to retain a cut portion produced during use of the cautery device.