Electrostatic Smoke Collecting Trocar Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical smoke and aerosol pose health risks due to the release of harmful contaminants during medical procedures, and existing technologies are inadequate in effectively reducing and removing these hazards.

Innovation Solution

A smoke collecting trocar with a tubular hollow body featuring a negatively charged ionizer plate and a positively charged collection plate, along with an insufflator and flow meter, is used to ionize particles and attract them towards the collection plate for electrostatic smoke precipitation, reducing the need for additional insufflation gas and enabling efficient smoke removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional smoke evacuation methods are used, then smoke can be removed from the surgical site, but additional insufflation gas is required which increases procedural costs and patient temperature loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical smokeVSAvoidinsufflation gas

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies electrostatic precipitation to convert the harmful smoke particles into beneficially charged particles that are attracted to and collected on oppositely charged plates within the trocar. This eliminates the need for additional gas flow to remove smoke, as the smoke is captured electrostatically rather than being evacuated mechanically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical smoke evacuation system (which requires gas flow and vacuum) with an electrostatic system using charged plates. This substitution eliminates the need for additional insufflation gas while still achieving smoke removal through electrostatic attraction and collection of charged particles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If electrostatic plates are added to the trocar, then smoke collection efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical smokeVSAvoidtrocar structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trocar is designed to perform multiple functions: it maintains insufflation pressure, provides surgical access, and simultaneously collects smoke through its integrated electrostatic plates. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate smoke evacuation equipment and minimizes overall system complexity despite adding electrostatic capabilities to the trocar.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrostatic smoke collection system is nested within the existing trocar structure. The charged and uncharged plates are positioned inside the trocar lumen, utilizing the existing surgical access pathway without requiring separate external equipment, thereby integrating smoke collection into the fundamental surgical instrument.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If charged plates are used for smoke collection, then smoke particles are effectively captured, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical smokeVSAvoidelectric charge

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The charging controller applies electric charge to the plates in a periodic or controlled manner rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective smoke collection during critical phases of the surgical procedure when smoke generation occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the electric charge parameters on the plates based on surgical conditions, applying charge only when and where needed for smoke collection, thereby optimizing energy usage while maintaining effective smoke capture during electrosurgical procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution effectively reduces surgical smoke, minimizing procedural costs, patient temperature loss, and tissue dehydration while providing a self-cleaning mechanism for the collection plate.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic precipitation: Electrostatic Deposition

Implementation Method 2

electrically charging the first plate and the second plate by the charging controller to ionize particles within the surgical cavity and attract the particles toward one of the first plate and the second plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonization: Ionisation

Data Source

PatentUS11540860B2Smoke collecting trocar

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 BUFFALO FILTER LLC

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus and method for reducing surgical smoke. An exemplary apparatus includes trocar comprising a tubular hollow body circumscribing a cavity extending through a longitudinal axis of the trocar with a gasket at a first end and an exit port at a second end, the tubular hollow body comprising a first wall circumscribing the cavity and a concentrically spaced apart second wall. The apparatus further includes a first plate operable to maintain an electric charged disposed within the cavity on the first wall, and a second plate operable to maintain an electric charge disposed between the first wall and the spaced apart second wall.