Dual-Sheath Ultrasonic Irrigation Sleeve for Leak-Free Tip Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic instruments face challenges with heat buildup, biological debris accumulation, and difficulty in maneuvering to surgical sites, along with issues in preventing irrigation fluid leakage and maintaining visibility during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic surgical assembly featuring an irrigation sleeve assembly with an inner and outer sheath that surrounds the ultrasonic tip, coupled to a hub, which includes an annular sealing member to prevent fluid egress and a flexible design to maintain irrigation flow, along with an aspiration passageway for debris removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single-sheath irrigation system is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but irrigation fluid leakage cannot be prevented and hot spots occur along the ultrasonic tip
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation sleeve is divided into an inner sheath and an outer sheath, creating a segmented structure that prevents fluid leakage through multiple sealing surfaces while allowing independent optimization of each component's function
Solution Approach 2:
The inner sheath is nested within the outer sheath, forming a concentric dual-sheath configuration that enables effective sealing against the ultrasonic tip while maintaining a compact overall structure
2Ease of operation
If the irrigation sleeve is made rigid to maintain structure, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the ability to maneuver to surgical sites is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation sleeve incorporates flexible sections that allow dynamic bending and positioning during surgery, enabling the device to reach difficult surgical sites while maintaining proper alignment through elastic recovery
3Temperature
If the distal end of the inner sheath is positioned proximal to the outer sheath end, then hot spots are prevented, but irrigation fluid delivery to the surgical site is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation system provides localized cooling by positioning the inner sheath distal end to extend beyond the outer sheath, creating a distal irrigation zone that directly cools the ultrasonic tip while maintaining overall fluid flow through the annular passageway
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 assembly effectively cools the ultrasonic tip, prevents fluid leakage, and enhances surgical visibility by maintaining fluid flow, allowing for precise and efficient tissue cutting in minimally invasive procedures.
Implementation Method 1
irrigation fluid being conveyed alongside the ultrasonic instrument to a surgical site to irrigate the surgical site and to cool the ultrasonic instrument
Implementation Method 2
The annular sealing member is configured to prevent egress of fluid from the hub and outer sheath
Implementation Method 3
A suction source can pull excess fluid and biological debris from the surgical site to provide better visibility
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic surgical instrument assembly including an irrigation sleeve assembly defining a lumen and an ultrasonic tip at least partially disposed within the lumen of the irrigation sleeve. The irrigation sleeve assembly may comprise a hub and an irrigation sleeve coupled to the hub. The irrigation sleeve may comprise an inner sheath and an outer sheath, both extending distally from the hub. The outer sheath may surround at least a portion of the inner sheath to define an irrigation passageway between the outer sheath and the inner sheath configured to deliver irrigation fluid to the surgical site. The distal end of the inner sheath may extend beyond the distal end of the outer sheath. Each of the inner and the outer sheath may be coupled to the hub by an annular sealing member configured to create fluid-tight seal between the hub and the respective inner and outer sheath.