Deformable Seal for Laparoscopic Port with Narrowed Waist

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laparoscopic procedures require multiple incisions, increasing the risk of infection, bleeding, and postoperative pain, while single port laparoscopic surgery faces challenges in maintaining complete sealing of the access port and convenient tool exchange during procedures.

Innovation Solution

A deformable seal with a narrowed waist and tool passing channels that conform to laparoscopic tools, allowing for complete sealing and easy introduction and removal of tools, along with an insufflation channel for maintaining abdominal pressure without separate incisions, and pivotally attached tool holders to prevent tool interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple incisions are made for conventional laparoscopic procedures, then access for multiple tools is improved, but the risk of infection, bleeding, and postoperative pain increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess for multiple toolsVSAvoidrisk of infection, bleeding, and postoperative pain

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple tool access channels into a single port structure. The deformable seal contains multiple tool passing channels that allow multiple laparoscopic tools to be introduced through one incision site, eliminating the need for multiple separate incisions while maintaining the ability to access multiple tools simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single port structure serves multiple functions: it provides sealing against insufflation gas, allows passage of multiple different laparoscopic tools, and enables tool exchange during procedures. The deformable seal adapts to accommodate various tool configurations while maintaining a single access point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a single port is used for laparoscopic access, then cosmetic outcomes are improved and procedural risks are reduced, but complete sealing and convenient tool exchange become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecosmetic outcomes and procedural risksVSAvoidcomplete sealing

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a deformable seal made of flexible material that can conform to the contours of inserted tools. This flexible membrane structure allows the seal to adapt dynamically as tools are inserted, removed, or exchanged, maintaining complete sealing throughout the procedure while enabling convenient tool manipulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The seal is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to deform and adapt as tools are inserted and removed. The tool passing channels can expand and contract to accommodate tool movement, and the seal can be temporarily displaced during tool exchange then return to its sealing position, providing both reliability and convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a deformable seal with tool passing channels is used, then complete sealing and easy tool exchange are achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete sealingVSAvoidseal structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seal utilizes a flexible membrane structure with integrated tool passing channels rather than multiple separate components. This flexible shell design achieves complete sealing through material properties and geometric configuration rather than complex mechanical assemblies, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Enhances cosmetic outcomes, reduces procedural risks, and facilitates more efficient and minimally invasive robotic surgical procedures by ensuring complete sealing and easy tool management through a single port, improving the safety and effectiveness of single port laparoscopic surgeries.

Implementation Method 1

Each of the tool passing channels is typically configured to be sufficiently elastic to conform to and seal against and about a shaft of a laparoscopic tool removably inserted in the channel so that a surrounding surface of the channel will close or collapse about a circumference of the shaft to inhibit leakage of an insufflation gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11324536B2Seal for laparoscopic access port

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 KIETURAKIS MACIEJ J

AI summary

A deformable seal for use together with a laparoscopic port has a deformable body with an upper region, a lower region, and a narrowed waist. A plurality of tool passing channels are individually formed in an axial direction through the deformable body, and each tool passing channel has a tool entrance on a surface of the upper region and a tool exit on a surface of the lower region. The tool passing channels are sufficiently elastic to conform to and seal about a shaft of a laparoscopic tool present in the channel and to close to inhibit leakage of an insufflation gases when the tool is removed from the tool passing channel.