Cutting Guard Interface for Specimen Bag Tissue Excision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive surgical procedures face challenges when removing large tumor tissues or masses, as existing methods require breaking up tissue within the specimen bag to fit through small incisions, risking contact with healthy tissue and requiring manual morcellation, which can be unsafe and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A cutting guard with a flexible inner peripheral surface and biasing element that activates a cutting electrode upon oversized tissue contact, completing an electrical circuit to excise excess tissue safely and efficiently, integrated with a wound retractor and specimen bag system for minimally invasive procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If manual morcellation is used to break up large tissue masses, then tissue can be reduced to fit through small incisions, but there is risk of contact with healthy tissue and potential metastasis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical morcellation with an automated electrosurgical cutting system. The cutting electrode, when activated by tissue contact, automatically cuts excess tissue within the sealed specimen bag, eliminating the need for manual breaking up and the associated risk of contaminating healthy tissue with diseased tissue particles.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting system is designed to activate automatically when oversized tissue contacts the cutting electrode, completing an electrical circuit that energizes the electrode to excise the tissue. This self-activating mechanism eliminates the need for manual intervention during tissue reduction, maintaining the seal and preventing contamination.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a cutting mechanism is deployed within the specimen bag, then oversized tissue can be excised safely, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting guard is designed as a nested structure where the flexible inner peripheral surface with ground contacts is contained within the guard lumen, which itself is positioned within the specimen bag. This nested arrangement integrates multiple functions (protection, electrical circuit completion, tissue guidance) into a compact configuration that minimizes overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting guard structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the specimen bag from cutting electrode damage, provides ground contacts for electrical circuit completion, guides tissue toward the cutting electrode, and maintains the sealed environment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing device complexity.
3Reliability
If the flexible inner peripheral surface is biased inwardly, then the ground contacts remain retracted until tissue contact, but the biasing mechanism adds device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing element automatically maintains the flexible inner peripheral surface in a retracted position and activates the ground contacts only when oversized tissue forces them outward to complete the electrical circuit. This self-regulating mechanism ensures reliable circuit activation without requiring external control systems or complex switching mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible inner peripheral surface is designed to be dynamically responsive, transitioning from a retracted state (maintained by the biasing element) to an extended state (when tissue contact occurs). This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt to different tissue sizes and automatically activate the cutting function only when needed, simplifying control while maintaining reliability.
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 safe and efficient excision of oversized tissue within the specimen bag, minimizing contact with healthy tissue and reducing the need for manual morcellation, thereby enhancing the safety and efficacy of tissue removal during minimally invasive surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
A biasing element is disposed at least partially within the guard lumen and encircles the flexible inner peripheral surface of the body lumen. The biasing element biases the flexible inner peripheral surface inwardly.
Implementation Method 2
The proximal end of the ground guard or the ground lumen electrically connects to a second potential of the electrical energy source. Upon externalizing of tissue through the distal opening of the elongated ground guard, oversized tissue that does not fit through the distal opening of the elongated ground guard forces the flexible inner peripheral surface of the body lumen and the ground contact outwardly to engage the proximal end of the ground guard or the ground lumen to complete an electrical circuit with the cutting electrode to energize the cutting electrode to excise oversized tissue.
Data Source
AI summary
A kit for extracting a tissue specimen includes a specimen container having a proximal rim and a specimen bag operably supported about the proximal rim and depending therefrom. The specimen bag includes a plurality of ribs depending from the proximal rim having a series of mechanical interfaces associated therewith and extending therealong. The kit also includes a cutting guard having a body with proximal and distal ends. The distal end is configured for insertion within the specimen bag when disposed within an incision and the proximal end defines an opening therein configured to facilitate introduction of one or more surgical instruments therethrough. The cutting guard includes one or mechanical interfaces operably associated with the body of the cutting guard configured to selectively engage one of the series of mechanical interfaces of one of the plurality of ribs of the specimen container upon insertion of the cutting guard within the incision.