Disposable Sterile Guide for Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic surgical procedures face challenges with restricted visualization due to smaller incisions, and existing surgical guides pose sterility and attachment issues.
Innovation Solution
A disposable, sterile guide constructed of medically-acceptable plastic is designed to compartmentalize and protect ligaments or fascia during endoscopic procedures, enhancing visualization and reducing the risk of damage to surrounding anatomy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If smaller incisions are used in endoscopic procedures, then post-operative pain and recovery time are reduced, but visualization of the affected area becomes more restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The guide is divided into multiple functional segments: a first portion for engagement with the endoscope, a second portion for engagement with the ligament/fascia, and a third portion extending between them. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function while maintaining overall device coherence through the longitudinal axis alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide acts as an intermediary device between the endoscope and the cutting instrument. It provides a structured pathway that facilitates the passage of both the endoscope for visualization and the cutting instrument for surgery, while maintaining spatial separation and preventing harmful interactions between these two critical components.
2Strength
If reusable metal surgical guides are used, then durability is improved, but sterility issues and attachment risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide is designed as a disposable, single-use device that can be sterilized and discarded after one procedure. This eliminates the cumulative sterility risks associated with repeated sterilization cycles and removes the risk of piece detachment from friction wear that accumulates with reuse. The guide is packaged sterile and ready for immediate use.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide integrates multiple functions into a single unified structure: it provides structural support for the endoscope, engages with the ligament or fascia, and guides the cutting instrument. This merging of functions into one piece eliminates the risk of separate pieces becoming unattached, which is a concern with multi-component reusable metal guides.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional metal instruments are used, then reusability and durability are improved, but cost and sterilization requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide is designed as a disposable device that is packaged sterile and can be discarded after single use. This eliminates the need for complex sterilization protocols and reduces the costs associated with maintaining reusable metal instruments. The guide is ready for immediate use upon opening the sterile package.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide transitions from reusable metal construction to disposable plastic construction, changing the material parameter to enable single-use sterilization packaging. This parameter change allows the device to be manufactured more simply and distributed in ready-to-use sterile packages, eliminating the need for hospital sterilization facilities and protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A disposable, sterile guide constructed of medically-acceptable plastic used for compartmentalizing and therefore protecting the ligament or fascia during three different orthopedic surgical procedures: ECTR, ECuTR, and EPFR. This device reduces the risk of damage to any other part of the surrounding anatomy. The device is disposable and packaged so as to be sterile and therefore readily usable by the surgeon means that it can reduce the risk of infection and is a less expensive alternative to traditional non-disposable, metal instruments that must be sterilized prior to each procedure.