Reversibly Deformable Blade for Minimally Invasive Debridement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical debridement tools often require large incisions, leading to increased operative trauma, longer recovery times, and scarring, as they are not designed for minimally invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device comprising a housing, cannula, and a cutting blade with a reversibly deformable blade region that can be deployed and retracted through a minimally invasive incision using a driving handle, allowing for debridement within a small opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional surgical debridement tools are used, then effective debridement can be achieved, but large incisions are required causing increased operative trauma and longer recovery times
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade is nested within the cannula in a retracted state, allowing the entire device to be inserted through a small incision. The blade can then be deployed outward from the cannula to perform debridement, eliminating the need for large incisions while maintaining accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting blade transitions from a static, fixed position to a dynamic, deployable structure. The blade can be extended outward from the cannula when needed for debridement and retracted back inside when not in use, providing both minimal invasiveness and operational effectiveness
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a minimally invasive approach is used, then reduced trauma and scarring are achieved, but the ability to perform effective debridement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The nested design allows the cutting blade to be concealed within the narrow cannula for insertion, then deployed outward to provide sufficient cutting surface area and reach for effective debridement of bone and soft tissue, maintaining productivity while minimizing scarring
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting blade utilizes the radial dimension by extending outward from the cannula in addition to the longitudinal dimension. This allows the blade to access and debride tissue in multiple directions and depths through a small incision, maintaining debridement effectiveness while using a minimally invasive approach
3Device complexity
If a fixed cutting blade is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but flexibility in the extent of debridement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade is designed with reversible deformability, allowing it to dynamically change its deployed length. The blade can be extended to different degrees based on surgical needs and then retracted, providing flexibility in the extent of debridement while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The blade's physical state changes between retracted and deployed configurations. This parameter change allows the same blade structure to provide different levels of exposure and debridement capability, offering versatility without requiring multiple different blade components
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 debridement through a minimally invasive approach, reducing trauma and scarring, and providing flexibility in the extent of bone or tissue debridement, with the blade being deployable to various distances for effective tissue management.
Implementation Method 1
a reversibly deformable blade region disposed between the distal and proximal ends of the cutting blade. The deformable blade region is sized and configured to be received within at least one slot defined by the cannula and bends and straightens in response to movement of the driving handle relative to the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical device includes a housing, a cannula, a driving handle, and a cutting blade. The housing defines a hole in which the cannula that defines a passageway extending from a distal end to a proximal end is disposed. The driving handle is movably coupled to the housing and includes a driving rod slidably received within the passageway. The cutting blade is disposed within the passageway of the cannula and includes a distal end coupled to the distal end of the cannula, a proximal end configured to engage a distal end of the driving rod, and a reversibly deformable blade region disposed between the distal and proximal ends of the cutting blade. The deformable blade region is sized and configured to be received within at least one slot defined by the cannula and bends and straightens in response to movement of the driving handle relative to the housing.