Double-Headed Surgical Instrument with Deformable Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments for treating fistulae, such as anal fistulae, are cumbersome and require high skill to navigate the tortuous fistula tract, leading to time-consuming and costly procedures.
Innovation Solution
A double-headed surgical instrument featuring a handle, a first shaft with a probe head for navigating fistula tracts, and a second shaft with a curette head for treating sinus cavities, where at least one shaft is made from an elastically deformable material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a straight probe is used to navigate the tortuous fistula tract, then the device structure is simple, but it is difficult to traverse the tract and may create false passages
Solution Approach 1:
The probe shaft is made from an elastically deformable material that can be plastically deformed to adopt a curved shape suited for traversing the tortuous fistula tract, rather than using a rigid straight probe that cannot navigate bends
2Adaptability or versatility
If a malleable probe is repeatedly inserted and retracted to be plastically deformed, then it can adapt to the tract shape, but the procedure becomes time-consuming and skill-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The probe shaft is pre-formed with a curved configuration that is suitable for traversing tortuous tracts, eliminating the need for repeated insertion, retraction, and manual deformation during the procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The probe shaft is made from an elastically deformable material that allows it to be plastically deformed once during manufacturing to achieve the desired curved shape, rather than requiring multiple deformations during use
3Ease of manufacture
If separate devices are used for probing fistulae and treating sinus cavities, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall procedure requires multiple devices and becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument combines both a probe function and a curette function in a single double-headed device, allowing both fistula probing and sinus cavity treatment to be performed with one instrument rather than requiring separate devices
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument is designed with dual functionality, featuring a probe head for navigating fistula tracts and a curette head for treating sinus cavities, making it a universal tool that can handle multiple surgical tasks
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
The instrument allows for efficient and precise navigation of fistula tracts and treatment of sinus cavities, reducing procedural time and complexity while minimizing the need for multiple devices.
Implementation Method 1
At least one of the first shaft and the second shaft may be formed from an elastically deformable material
Data Source
AI summary
The double-headed surgical instrument includes a handle, a first shaft extending out of the handle in a first direction, a probe head located at a distal end of the first shaft, a second shaft extending out of the handle in a second direction, and a curette head located at a distal end of the second shaft. The first shaft, the handle, and the second shaft may be axially aligned with respect to one another. At least one of the first shaft and the second shaft may be formed from an elastically deformable material. The probe head may be configured as an anal probe head for probing and curing an anal fistula, or for traversing a fistula tract. The curette head may be adapted to traverse a sinus cavity for treating a pilonidal sinus disease.