Collapsible Trocar with Retractable Sleeve and Gas Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
In minimally invasive surgery, the length of the trocar set outside the human body is often longer than inside, leading to physical contact with medical professionals and potential enlargement of the wound, increased pain, and longer recovery times.
Innovation Solution
A trocar set comprising a handle portion, first and second sleeves, and a gasbag, where the second sleeve is retractably connected to the first sleeve, allowing the total length to be shortened, and a gas tight assembly to prevent gas leaks and stabilize the sleeves, enabling the trocar set to be fixed to the body and then shortened for safer operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the trocar set is designed with a long external length for instrument insertion and operation, then the operational functionality is improved, but the risk of physical contact with medical professionals increases leading to wound enlargement and patient pain
Solution Approach 1:
The trocar set employs a dynamic telescopic structure where the outer tube can extend relative to the inner tube during instrument insertion and operation, then retract afterward. This dynamic adjustment allows the device to have a long effective length during use for easy instrument access, while reducing to a short length after use to minimize contact with medical professionals and prevent wound enlargement.
Solution Approach 2:
The trocar set utilizes a nested tube configuration where the outer tube contains the inner tube, allowing one component to be inserted within another. This nesting arrangement enables the external length to be reduced when not in use, as the tubes can be telescoped into each other, while maintaining sufficient operational length when extended.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the trocar set external length is shortened to avoid contact with medical professionals, then the risk of wound enlargement is reduced, but the ease of instrument insertion and operation is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic mechanism allows the trocar set to dynamically adjust its external length based on operational needs. During instrument insertion and operation, the outer tube extends to provide sufficient length for ease of use. After these operations are complete, the outer tube retracts to minimize external length and reduce contact with medical professionals, thus preventing wound enlargement.
Solution Approach 2:
The trocar set is designed to extend its external length in advance before instrument insertion and operation begins, ensuring sufficient length is available for ease of operation. After the operations are completed, the device retracts its length to minimize contact with medical professionals, thus preventing wound enlargement during the critical post-operative period.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a retractable sleeve structure is added to the trocar set to enable length adjustment, then the risk of wound enlargement is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retractable sleeve structure utilizes a nested tube design where the outer tube contains the inner tube, allowing one component to be inserted within another. This nested configuration enables length adjustment through a relatively simple telescopic mechanism rather than complex moving parts, reducing device complexity while still achieving the goal of minimizing wound enlargement risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The trocar set is divided into segmented components (outer tube and inner tube) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the external length to be adjusted by extending or retracting the outer tube, achieving the goal of minimizing wound enlargement risk while keeping the mechanism relatively simple through modular design.
4Ease of operation
If the trocar set is designed with a fixed long length, then the operational functionality is maintained, but the safety of the operation is reduced due to increased contact with medical professionals
Solution Approach 1:
The trocar set employs a dynamic telescopic structure where the outer tube can extend relative to the inner tube during instrument insertion and operation, then retract afterward. This dynamic adjustment allows the device to have a long effective length during use for easy instrument access, while reducing to a short length after use to minimize contact with medical professionals and prevent wound enlargement.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractable design implements preliminary anti-action by proactively reducing the external length of the trocar set after instrument insertion and operation. This preliminary action prevents potential harmful contact with medical professionals before it can occur, thereby enhancing operation safety while maintaining the necessary long length for ease of operation during the critical phases.
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 retractable design significantly shortens the trocar set's external length, reducing the risk of wound enlargement and patient pain, facilitating easier instrument insertion and operation, while maintaining a secure gas tight seal for effective use.
Implementation Method 1
After gas flows through the first gas valve, the gas flows along the gas flow channel and enters the gasbag through the second opening to have the gasbag inflated.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A trocar set (1) includes a handle portion (10), a first sleeve (20), a second sleeve (30), a gas tight assembly (50), and a pull band (60). A connection part (13) of the handle portion (10) extends from a grip (11) and includes an assembling channel (131). The first sleeve (20) includes an assembling end (201), a sleeving end (203), a first outer sleeve wall (23), and a fastening component (57). The assembling end (201) is assembled to the assembling channel (131), and the fastening component (57) is disposed at the sleeving end (203) and contacts the first outer sleeve wall (23). A sleeving end (203) of the second sleeve (30) is inserted into the receiving end (32), and the second inner sleeve wall (31) contacts the fastening component (57). A gas tight sleeve (53) of the gas tight assembly (50) encloses the receiving end (32) and the blocking component (51). An outer wall of the gas tight sleeve (53) is provided with a plurality of crossing channels (531). The pulling band (60) crosses the crossing channel (531).