Dual-Channel Surgical Guide for Protected Blade Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical guides for minimally invasive procedures provide inadequate protection for surgical blades and optical cables, leading to potential tissue damage due to their single-channel design and inability to maintain visibility during tissue cutting.
Innovation Solution
A dual-channel surgical guide with rotatable or slidable engagement of two members forms tunnels for the blade and optical cable, ensuring protected translation and visibility by incorporating viewing apertures, allowing for adjustable separation and reconfiguration to accommodate tissue deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-channel guide is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but tissue damage risk increases due to inadequate blade protection
Solution Approach 1:
The guide is divided into two separate members (first member and second member) that can be engaged together. Each member contains its own channel, creating distinct protected pathways for the blade and optical cable. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each channel's protective function while maintaining overall device manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The two guide members are designed to engage with each other, with channels that align when joined. The first channel of the first member aligns with the first channel of the second member to form a complete protected pathway, similar to nested structures that create enclosed spaces for protecting sensitive components.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single-channel guide is used, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but visibility during surgery is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure is segmented into two members, each capable of housing an optical cable independently. This allows the optical cable to be positioned in its own dedicated channel, ensuring unobstructed light transmission and clear visibility at the surgical site, while still using relatively simple individual component fabrication.
3Ease of operation
If the blade channel is open on one side, then the blade translation is easier, but tissue contact and damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The blade channel is formed by nesting the first member and second member together, creating a closed tunnel structure. The aligned channels of the two members form an enclosed pathway that protects the blade on all sides, preventing tissue contact while maintaining smooth blade translation through the complete tunnel.
Solution Approach 2:
The first channel and second channel are merged when the two members are engaged, forming a complete enclosed tunnel. This merging of channels from separate members creates the protective enclosure needed to prevent tissue contact while allowing blade movement.
4Ease of operation
If the optical cable channel is open on one side, then the cable insertion is easier, but tissue deformation and impediment occur
Solution Approach 1:
The optical cable channel is formed by the nested engagement of the two guide members, creating a closed tunnel structure. This enclosed channel prevents surrounding tissue from deforming or collapsing into the passage, maintaining stable tissue structure while allowing cable insertion and movement.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical device is provided which is formed of a pair of engageable members each having first and second channels which define respective first and second tunnels through the removably engaged members. Apertures through a proximal endwall provide a path for a cabled imaging component through said first tunnel to provide images of tissue surrounding the device, and an opening in the endwall of the paired members provides access to the second tunnel for a surgical blade for cutting tissue positioned in a gap between the paired members.