Counter-Rotating Tissue Cutting Device for Minimally Invasive Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods face difficulties in remotely cutting through pliable tissues without a structure to press against, making it challenging to access and relieve conditions like blocked bile ducts without invasive surgery.
Innovation Solution
A counter-rotatable cutting apparatus with an inner and outer cylindrical cutting member, where the inner cutting member has an anchor tip to pierce the tissue and the outer member has a cutting edge to scissor the tissue, allowing for radial cutting and opening creation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a probe is inserted to reach the desired location, then access to internal tissues is achieved, but the ability to make a small cut is lost because tissues are too pliable to punch or cut through without a structure to press against
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting device is divided into two separate counter-rotating cutting members (inner and outer) that work together. Each member has cutting surfaces that engage the tissue from opposite sides, allowing the pliable tissue to be caught between them and cut effectively without requiring a rigid structure behind it for support.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines piercing and cutting functions into a single integrated device. The inner cutting member includes an anchor tip for piercing the tissue, while both inner and outer members have cutting surfaces for scissoring the tissue. This merging of functions allows the device to first pierce the pliable tissue and then cut it in one continuous operation.
2Force
If conventional cutting methods are used on pliable tissues, then cutting force is applied, but the tissue cannot be cut through because there is no structure behind the tissue to press against
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses counter-rotation of the inner and outer cutting members to create opposing forces that act on the tissue from both sides. As the members rotate in opposite directions, their cutting surfaces engage the tissue simultaneously, with each surface providing a reaction force that enables effective cutting of pliable tissue without requiring external structural support.
3Adaptability or versatility
If invasive surgery is performed to access blocked bile ducts, then complete access is achieved, but patient trauma and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential cutting function from traditional invasive surgical instruments and incorporates it into a minimally invasive probe-like device. The device can be inserted through small openings or natural body orifices and performs cutting internally, eliminating the need for large incisions and extensive surgical exposure while maintaining the ability to effectively cut pliable tissues like bile ducts.
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
Enables precise and effective cutting of tissue walls, facilitating minimally invasive procedures by using counter-rotation to scissor through tissues, reducing the need for invasive surgery and improving access for treatments.
Implementation Method 1
an anchor tip extending outwardly beyond the distal end and configured to pierce the tissue
Implementation Method 2
counter-rotating the inner cutting member and the outer cutting member
Implementation Method 3
A tissue is rotatably scissorable between the first cutting edge of the inner cutting member and the second cutting edge of the outer cutting member
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for cutting an opening in a tissue wall. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes an inner cutting member having a first cylindrical body supporting at least one first cutting surface at a distal end. The first cutting surface faces a first rotational direction relative to an axis of the first cylindrical body and has a first cutting edge at an outer periphery of the first cylindrical body. The apparatus also includes an outer cutting member having a second cylindrical body concentrically disposed around the first cylindrical body and supporting at least one second cutting surface at the distal end. The second cutting surface faces a second rotational direction relative to the axis and has a second cutting edge at an inner periphery of the second cylindrical body. A tissue is rotatably scissorable between the first cutting edge of the inner cutting member and the second cutting edge of the outer cutting member responsive to application of the distal end of the apparatus against a tissue and counter-rotating the inner cutting member and the outer cutting member.