Curved Cross-Sectional Retractor for Minimally Invasive Hip Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional retractors used in minimally invasive hip replacement surgery often cause tissue necrosis and impinge on rotating reamers due to their flat and rectangular cross-sectional profiles, leading to prolonged recovery times and increased risk of surgical complications.
Innovation Solution
The development of retractors with a curved cross-sectional profile and a handle design that minimizes tissue trauma, allowing for improved visualization and control during surgery, reducing the risk of necrosis and reamer impingement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional retractors with flat and rectangular cross-sectional profiles are used in MIS hip surgery, then they can maintain access path to surgical site, but they cause necrosis of wound tissue and impinge on rotating reamer
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor is designed with a curved cross-sectional profile instead of a flat rectangular one. The curved surface distributes pressure more evenly across the wound tissue, preventing localized necrosis while maintaining adequate retraction. The curved geometry also eliminates sharp edges that could impinge on rotating reamers during the procedure.
2Illumination intensity
If conventional retractors are pressed against wound tissue to maintain access, then surgical site visualization is achieved, but tissue necrosis occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor design changes the geometric parameters of the contact surface from flat to curved. This parameter change allows the same retraction force to be applied with reduced peak pressure, preventing tissue necrosis while maintaining sufficient visualization of the surgical site.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional retractors with rectangular profile are used, then they provide structural stability, but they impinge on rotating reamer during reaming
Solution Approach 1:
The curved cross-sectional profile eliminates sharp corners and edges that would otherwise collide with the rotating reamer. The rounded geometry allows the reamer to rotate freely without impingement while the retractor maintains its position and stability through the curved contact with surrounding tissue.
Data Source
AI summary
A retractor system, kit and method of use includes a plurality of retractors for use in retracting a wound during a minimally-invasive hip replacement surgery to define an access space to a surgical site is discussed. Each of the retractors comprises a handle portion configured to be held by a user, a curved bend portion distal of the handle portion, and a wound contact portion attached to the curved bend portion. The wound contact portion is configured to contact tissue of the wound when at least a portion of the retractor is inserted through a skin incision that defines the wound. Each retractor also has a distal portion disposed distally of the wound contact portion, wherein the wound contact portion has a generally curved cross-sectional profile perpendicular to its length that is configured to prevent necrosis of the tissue during retraction. In addition, the cross-sectional profile provides an improved line of sight during the surgical procedure. Furthermore, the cross-sectional profile prevents the jamming of a cutting device, such as a reamer inserted through the incision, while the retractors retract the wound.