Curved Directional Probe for Ophthalmic Surgery Angulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ophthalmic surgeons are limited to using straight, rigid or deformable instruments for microsurgeries, which often result in mechanical failure due to small dimensions and lack of structural integrity, necessitating a directional probe with consistent geometry and angulation capabilities without moving parts.
Innovation Solution
A directional probe with a monolithic geometry and curved sections that fit within a cannula, providing durability and angulation while maintaining structural integrity, and allowing for the use of treatment devices like optical fibers or RF electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If straight, rigid instruments are used in ophthalmic surgery, then structural integrity is maintained, but angulation capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The probe incorporates a curved section with a specific radius of curvature that allows the distal portion to deflect at a predetermined angle while maintaining structural integrity. The curvature is designed to be tangent to the cannula walls at specific points, enabling the probe to navigate through the cannula and achieve angulation without compromising strength or requiring moving parts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If deformable instruments are used to achieve angulation, then access to different tissue sites is improved, but mechanical failure rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is divided into distinct sections: a proximal section, a curved section, and a distal section. Each section has specific dimensional characteristics that allow the curved portion to deflect while the straight sections maintain structural strength. This segmentation enables angulation without requiring the entire instrument to be deformable, thereby reducing mechanical failure risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe utilizes changes in cross-sectional dimensions along its length, with the curved section having a smaller average diameter than the proximal section. This parameter change allows the curved portion to flex within the cannula while the larger proximal section maintains structural integrity and resistance to mechanical failure.
3Measurement precision
If smaller dimensions are used for microsurgery devices, then precision is improved, but mechanical failure rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the probe have different dimensional qualities optimized for their specific functions. The proximal section has a larger diameter for strength and manipulation, while the curved and distal sections have smaller dimensions for precision and access. This local variation in quality allows the device to achieve surgical precision while maintaining overall structural reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment apparatus includes a cannula with a cannula lumen. The cannula has a first average diameter. A probe is positionable in the cannula lumen. The probe has a first section with a second average diameter and a second section with a third average diameter that is less than the second average diameter. At least a portion of the second section has a curved section with at least one radius of curvature. The radius of curvative is selected to provide that as the second section passes through the cannula lumen a first side of the second section is tangential to a first side of the cannula lumen, and a second opposing side of the second section is tangential to a second opposing side of the cannula lumen.