Collapsible Morcellation Receptacle with Expandable Support Rods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laparoscopic power morcellation receptacles lack sufficient room and visibility for surgeons to perform power morcellation safely, risking the spread of cancerous tissue during procedures like hysterectomy or myomectomy, and existing designs often compromise on either size or durability.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible morcellation receptacle with a flexible, water-resistant liner and support rods that expand to accommodate power morcellators and laparoscopes, allowing for controlled tissue handling and minimization of receptacle damage, featuring a central opening that can be occluded to prevent tissue spread.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the receptacle is made larger to provide sufficient room for power morcellation, then the visibility and working space for surgeons is improved, but the difficulty of insertion through small surgical access sites increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle employs a dynamic collapsible structure with support rods that can transition between expanded and collapsed states. During insertion, the receptacle is collapsed to fit through small surgical ports (10-20mm). Once positioned, the support rods are deployed to expand the receptacle to its full working size, providing adequate space for power morcellation while maintaining ease of insertion.
2Ease of operation
If the receptacle opening is made larger to improve visibility and access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of tissue spread outside the receptacle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the need for visibility/access and the need to contain tissue. The cover can be opened to provide visibility and access for surgical operations, yet it includes a closure mechanism that can seal the opening to prevent tissue spread. This intermediary structure allows the system to switch between open and closed states as needed.
3Reliability
If the receptacle is made inflatable to improve containment, then the reliability is improved, but the risk of receptacle severing during power morcellation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle employs a flexible liner made of tear-resistant material that provides containment without relying on inflation. This flexible shell structure maintains receptacle integrity during power morcellation operations, as it is not susceptible to the same failure modes as inflatable structures. The flexibility allows the liner to conform to the support rods and maintain its shape without requiring internal pressure.
4Strength
If the receptacle structure is made more robust to prevent severing, then the strength is improved, but the ease of insertion through small ports worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle is segmented into multiple components: support rods, flexible liner, and cover. The support rods provide structural strength and rigidity when needed, while the flexible liner provides containment. During insertion, these segments can be collapsed or configured to fit through small ports. The segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together as a complete system.
Data Source
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AI summary
A collapsible and expandable receptacle (2) that can be inserted into a patient's cavity through a laparoscopic port (sleeve) is disclosed herein. The receptacle (2) is configured so that when it enters the cavity it can be expanded or opened into the shape of a bowl or cone. A targeted tissue specimen can then be placed inside the expanded receptacle through a central opening (68) which can be closed afterwards. The surgeon has the room and visibility to cut the tissue with a power morcellator (28) and avoid severing the bag or spreading unwanted particulate tissue to other areas inside the patient. Once the specimen has been cut and removed, the empty receptacle can be collapsed and removed out the same tissue removing sleeve.