Laparoscopic Colpotomy System with Electromagnetic Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current uterine manipulators used in laparoscopic procedures face challenges in effectively positioning the uterus due to limited mobility and increased risk of bleeding, especially during hysterectomies, as they struggle to provide optimal exposure and precise instrument placement within the pelvic region.
Innovation Solution
A uterine instrument with a retaining member and transmitters that includes a colpotomy cup, balloons for inflation, and a navigation system to determine the distance between surgical instruments, ensuring the cutting element remains within a predetermined operating zone to prevent excessive bleeding and improve precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a uterine manipulator is used to reposition the uterus, then the exposure of vital pelvic regions is improved, but the risk of excessive bleeding increases due to the large blood supply in the pelvic region
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system continuously monitors the position of surgical instruments relative to the uterus and provides real-time feedback to the surgeon. Transmitters in the uterine instrument and receivers in the surgical instrument enable continuous tracking, allowing the surgeon to adjust instrument placement to avoid blood vessels while maintaining optimal uterine exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with an automated navigation system that uses electromagnetic fields (transmitters and receivers) to determine instrument positions. This substitution allows for more precise control of instrument placement, reducing the risk of accidental vessel injury while maintaining surgical exposure.
2Loss of time
If laparoscopic instruments are used instead of open surgery, then recovery time is reduced, but the precision of instrument placement within the pelvic region deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system adds a spatial dimension to laparoscopic surgery by incorporating three-dimensional position tracking. Transmitters and receivers measure position in multiple dimensions (x, y, z coordinates), enabling precise instrument placement within the confined pelvic space while maintaining the minimally invasive laparoscopic approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual representation of the surgical field by tracking the positions of instruments and the uterus. This virtual model allows the surgeon to visualize and plan precise instrument trajectories before actual cutting, improving placement precision without requiring larger incisions.
3Illumination intensity
If the uterus is elevated more than 45 degrees from the vaginal axis, then the exposure of pelvic regions is improved, but the structural integrity of the uterine manipulator is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system enables dynamic adjustment of uterine positioning during surgery. Rather than requiring fixed, extreme positioning angles that stress the manipulator, the system allows continuous monitoring and adjustment of uterine position, distributing mechanical stress over a range of positions and reducing peak loads on the manipulator structure.
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 navigation system enhances the accuracy of instrument placement and reduces the risk of bleeding by automatically deactivating the cutting element if it exceeds a predetermined threshold, ensuring safe and precise surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The retaining member includes a plurality of transmitters for transmitting at least one signal
Data Source
AI summary
A colpotomy system includes a surgical instrument having a cutting element and a receiver at a distal end thereof and a uterine instrument. The uterine instrument has a handle operably coupled to a shaft having a balloon at a distal end thereof, the shaft extending through a retaining member to access a surgical site, the retaining member including a plurality of transmitters for transmitting at least one signal. A distance between the cutting element of the surgical instrument and one end of the retaining member of the uterine instrument is calculated to determine whether the cutting element is within a predetermined operating zone.