Disposable Concentric Lumen Work Tip for Ultrasonic Surgical Handpiece
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasonic surgical handpieces require extensive sterilization between patients, which is time-consuming and costly, especially due to the need to sterilize the entire device after each use in cataract surgery, as autoclaving may not be sufficient to eliminate prion diseases like 'mad cow' disease.
Innovation Solution
A surgical handpiece design where only the disposable work tip comes into contact with aspiration fluid, allowing for quick replacement and disposal, eliminating the need to sterilize the entire device, with the work tip and sleeve being detachable and made of inexpensive materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire handpiece is sterilized after each use, then infection transmission risk is reduced, but time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The handpiece is divided into two segments: a reusable main body and a disposable work tip. Only the work tip, which contacts the patient's tissue and aspiration fluid, is discarded after use. This segmentation allows the majority of the device to be reused without sterilization, dramatically reducing sterilization time and cost while maintaining infection control for the critical contact area.
Solution Approach 2:
The work tip is designed as an inexpensive, single-use component that is discarded after one patient use. This disposable approach eliminates the need to sterilize expensive parts of the handpiece, reducing both time and cost. The work tip can be made from inexpensive materials since it is replaced after each use.
2Reliability
If the entire handpiece is sterilized, then safety is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handpiece is divided into a reusable main body and a disposable work tip. Only the work tip, which contacts the patient's tissue and aspiration fluid, is discarded after use. This segmentation allows the majority of the device to be reused without sterilization, dramatically reducing sterilization time and cost while maintaining infection control for the critical contact area.
Solution Approach 2:
The work tip is designed as an inexpensive, single-use component that is discarded after one patient use. This disposable approach eliminates the need to sterilize expensive parts of the handpiece, reducing both time and cost. The work tip can be made from inexpensive materials since it is replaced after each use.
3Strength
If the work tip is made of expensive materials like titanium, then durability and performance are improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The work tip is designed as an inexpensive, single-use component that is discarded after one patient use. This disposable approach eliminates the need to sterilize expensive parts of the handpiece, reducing both time and cost. The work tip can be made from inexpensive materials since it is replaced after each use.
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
This design reduces the time and cost associated with sterilization, allows for faster patient turnover, and enhances safety by minimizing the risk of infection transmission, while also reducing the complexity of handling the handpiece.
Implementation Method 1
The transducer 11 is shown as a magnetostrictive transducer with an electrical coil 12 wound about a stack of metal laminations so that longitudinal mechanical vibrations are produced
Implementation Method 2
The transducer can also be of the piezoelectric type
Implementation Method 3
The work tip 14 is an elongated, hollow tip of a suitable metal, such as titanium, that is capable of supporting ultrasonic vibrations
Implementation Method 4
The connecting body forms an acoustic impedance transformer for conveying the longitudinal vibrations of the transducer 11 for application to an operative tool or working tip 14
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical handpiece has a connecting body with a distal end and a work tip with a hub at a proximal end. The hub is detachably connected to the connecting body by a threaded connector. The work tip has an open operating end at a distal end. This opening leads an axial channel extending through the work tip from the operating end to the hub. A radial channel extends from the axial channel in the hub to the external surface of the hub. A sleeve surrounds and is spaced from the hub. This sleeve extends to the vicinity of the operating end of the work tip, and has a first external connector in the region of the radial channel of the hub. The sleeve also has a second external connector. A seal is provided for establishing a fluid connection between the radial channel of the hub and the second external connector of the sleeve. The first external connector of the sleeve is in fluid connection with an irrigation channel between the inner surface of the sleeve and the external surface of the work tip. This irrigation channel extends to the vicinity of the operating end of the work tip for delivery of irrigation fluid to that area. The irrigation channel is generally concentric with the axial channel in the hub. Aspiration fluid is withdrawn from the open operating end of the work tip, through the axial and radial channels of the hub, the seal and the second external connector of the sleeve to an aspiration pump.