Curved Brain Tissue Retraction Assembly for Surgical Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Brain surgeons face challenges in stabilizing brain tissue during surgery due to the need for long arms that obstruct movement and provide inadequate stability, making it difficult to maintain access to the surgical site.
Innovation Solution
A brain tissue retraction assembly featuring a curved frame with spatula arm subassemblies and clamp arm subassemblies that are securely attached to the skull, allowing for controlled retraction and restraint of brain tissue using a lightweight, biocompatible design that minimizes obstruction and maximizes surgical access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If long arms are used to reach from the mount to the surgical site, then the surgical access is achieved, but the stability is insufficient and the freedom of movement is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a linear arm structure to a curved frame structure that utilizes spatial curvature to achieve the same functional goal. The curved frame arches over the surgical site, allowing the mount to be positioned closer to the patient's head while maintaining stability through the curved geometry, thereby improving freedom of movement without sacrificing stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame is designed with a curved geometry that arches over the surgical site. This curvature provides structural stability while allowing the spatula arms to be positioned optimally for surgical access. The curved design eliminates the need for long straight arms, reducing obstruction and improving the surgeon's freedom of movement while maintaining reliable stabilization.
2Reliability
If arms are attached to the clamp or surgical table, then the spatulas can be held in place, but long arms are necessary which obstruct movement and provide inadequate stability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the mount, frame, and spatula arm support into a single integrated curved frame structure. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate long arms extending from distant mounts, as the curved frame itself provides the stable support structure that positions the spatulas optimally while minimizing obstruction to the surgeon's movement.
3Reliability
If the mount is positioned far from the surgical site, then stability can be achieved, but the freedom of movement is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The curved frame utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement to position the mount closer to the patient's head while maintaining stability through the arching geometry. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the support structure to be proximal to the surgical site without compromising stability, thereby improving the surgeon's freedom of movement.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing brain surgery on a patient having a skull and brain tissue, that starts by creating an opening, having a rim, in the skull. The method uses an assembly for facilitating brain surgery that includes a curved frame, defining an inward dimension and an outward dimension; a plurality of spatula arm subassemblies, each including a spatula arm frame clamp, releasably attached to the frame, a spatula arm held and supported by the spatula arm frame clamp and a spatula extending from the inward end of the spatula arm of the spatula arm subassembly. The assembly is clamped to the rim and the spatula arms are positioned so that the spatulas engage the brain tissue in a manner that facilitates surgery.