Dual-Handle Endoscopic Ligament Release With Self-Dilating Tip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive surgical procedures for cutting anatomic structures like ligaments, such as carpal tunnel release, face challenges with limited visibility and precision due to the need for multiple tools and assistants, and conventional guides that cause tissue damage during translation and impede accurate incisions.
Innovation Solution
An integrated endoscopic ligament release device with dual handles, allowing single-handed operation, featuring a probe with a cutting member and imaging device, and a self-dilating tip to prevent tissue contact, enhance visibility, and enable precise cuts without damaging adjacent structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional guides are used for minimally invasive surgery, then the surgical pathway can be established, but tissue damage occurs during translation and impede accurate incisions
Solution Approach 1:
The guide features a self-dilating tip with a flexible membrane that expands to accommodate the cutting member and imaging device. This flexible membrane allows the guide to translate through tissue without causing damage, as it can deform and adapt to the surrounding tissue rather than forcing its way through rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide is divided into distinct segments: a self-dilating tip portion, a body portion, and a controlled cutting member channel. The self-dilating tip is further segmented into a membrane portion and a rigid portion, allowing each segment to perform its specific function while minimizing tissue damage during translation.
2Measurement precision
If multiple tools and assistants are used for minimally invasive surgery, then surgical procedures can be performed, but visibility and precision are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting member and imaging device are merged into a single integrated assembly that moves together through the self-dilating guide. This combination ensures that the imaging device provides real-time visualization of the exact location where the cutting member will make incisions, thereby improving surgical precision without requiring multiple separate tools or assistants.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging device acts as an intermediary between the surgeon and the surgical site, providing visual feedback that enhances precision. The guide serves as an intermediary structure that safely translates both the imaging device and cutting member to the target location while protecting surrounding tissue.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If self-dilating tip is used to prevent tissue contact, then tissue damage is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The self-dilating tip incorporates a dynamic membrane portion that can change its state from compressed to expanded. This dynamic structure allows the tip to adapt its configuration based on the requirements of tissue penetration versus tissue protection, reducing damage without requiring a completely rigid and complex structure throughout.
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical instruments and methods of minimally invasive surgery are provided. The device may include two proximal handles each sized for a surgeon's hand, the two handles in fixed relative positions, and a distal probe attached to the handles. The probe can include a distal cutting member and contain or receive an imaging device. The system can be used for cutting anatomic members, such as ligaments, during minimally invasive surgical procedures, for example, performing endoscopic ligament release surgery, such as carpal tunnel release, plantar fasciotomy, gastrocnemius release, cubital tunnel release, and tarsal tunnel release surgery, and similar surgical procedures on anatomic members.