Electrocautery Needle and Jaw Assembly for Stone Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical procedures for removing obstructions, such as kidney stones, often require multiple device extensions, increase the risk of patient injury due to laser lithotripsy, and demand high practitioner skill levels.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with a handle assembly, shaft, and jaw members that can transition between open and closed configurations, equipped with a needle for cutting, ablating, and cauterizing tissue, and a motor for rotating the needle to facilitate efficient obstruction removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If laser lithotripsy is used to break apart larger stones, then stone removal capability is improved, but risk of damage to inner linings of body lumen increases due to heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the laser-based thermal mechanical system with an electrocautery-based electrical system. The electrocautery needle delivers electrical current to cut and remove stones through electrothermal effects at the tip, eliminating the need for high-power laser beams that generate harmful heat throughout the body lumen. This substitution maintains stone removal capability while concentrating energy delivery to a precise, controllable point, thereby avoiding damage to inner linings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electrocautery needle as an intermediary tool between the power source and the stone. This needle acts as a controlled energy delivery mechanism that can be precisely positioned at the stone location. The needle's insulated shaft and exposed tip configuration allows electrical energy to be delivered locally to the stone for cutting and removal, while the insulated portions prevent harmful heat generation in surrounding tissues and body linings.
2Productivity
If a capture device is extended numerous times to remove multiple stones, then complete stone removal is achieved, but procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single device system. The ureteroscope integrates the electrocautery needle, basket, and grasper functions, allowing the practitioner to perform cutting, capturing, and removal operations all through one device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need to extend and retract multiple separate devices, thereby reducing procedure time while maintaining complete stone removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the electrocautery cutting function with the basket capture function into a single integrated system. The electrocautery needle can be positioned within the basket, and both functions are controlled through the same ureteroscope shaft. This combination allows the practitioner to cut stones and capture fragments in a coordinated manner, reducing the number of separate operations needed and thereby decreasing overall procedure time.
3Device complexity
If conventional capture devices are used without integrated cutting capabilities, then device simplicity is maintained, but practitioner skill level required increases to handle multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal device that performs multiple functions (cutting, capturing, grasping) through a single integrated system. The electrocautery needle and basket are both controlled through the same ureteroscope, allowing one practitioner to master a single device rather than multiple separate tools. This reduces the learning curve and skill level required, as the practitioner only needs to learn the operation of one multi-functional device instead of coordinating several simple devices.
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
Reduces procedure time, decreases practitioner skill requirements, minimizes device and patient injury risk, and enhances material removal efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The needle may be configured to receive electrical energy to facilitate cutting, ablating, and/or cauterizing tissue
Implementation Method 2
The handle assembly may further comprise a motor configured to rotate the needle about a longitudinal axis of the needle
Implementation Method 3
The needle may be electrically conductive
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure includes a medical device comprising a handle assembly including a first actuator; a shaft extending distally from the handle assembly; a first jaw member movably coupled to a distal portion of the shaft; a second jaw member movably coupled to the distal portion of the shaft and to the first jaw member; and a needle positioned between the first jaw member and the second jaw member. The needle may be configured to receive electrical energy to facilitate cutting, ablating, and/or cauterizing tissue.