Endoluminal Anchoring Arm Control for Concealed Structure Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical imaging systems struggle to recognize and convey information about concealed structures and dimensions within a three-dimensional space, leading to uncertainty and potential damage to critical structures during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical anchoring system with independently movable channel arms and anchor members, equipped with control actuators and a drive system, allows for precise manipulation of organs and anatomical lumens, enhancing visualization and control through a surgical instrument with optional anchoring balloons and optical sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional imaging systems are used to view surgical sites, then the surgical site can be visualized on displays, but concealed structures and three-dimensional information remain unrecognizable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second natural body lumen that is in communication with the first natural body lumen, allowing access to concealed structures through an additional dimensional pathway. The channel arm extends through the working channel to reach the second lumen, providing three-dimensional access and visualization of hidden anatomical structures that cannot be observed from the first lumen alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel arm acts as an intermediary element that bridges the first and second natural body lumens. It carries the anchor member and control actuator from the accessible first lumen to the concealed second lumen, enabling manipulation and anchoring of deep structures without requiring direct external access to those concealed areas.
2Ease of operation
If surgical instruments are inserted into natural body lumens to manipulate organs, then organ manipulation is achieved, but the risk of damaging critical concealed structures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control actuator provides real-time feedback control for the anchor member's movement between expanded and unexpanded states. The drive system controlling the channel arm's motion can be coordinated with imaging systems to provide feedback on the position and status of concealed structures, allowing the surgeon to adjust manipulation forces to avoid damage to critical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor member is designed with an expandable structure that can be deployed in advance to secure the instrument position before manipulating organs. The anchoring balloon can be inflated beforehand to stabilize the instrument within the lumen, preventing unintended movement that could damage critical concealed structures during subsequent organ manipulation.
3Reliability
If anchor members are expanded within the second natural body lumen to secure anatomical locations, then stable anchoring is achieved, but the complexity of controlling anchor movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The channel arm is disposed within the working channel of the surgical instrument, which itself is inserted into the first natural body lumen. The control actuator is nested along the channel arm, and the anchor member is coupled to the channel arm. This nested configuration allows multiple functions (navigation, actuation, anchoring) to be integrated in a compact hierarchy, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable anchoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor member is configured to automatically move between expanded and unexpanded states through the control actuator's operation. Once deployed, the anchor member self-secures at the desired location within the second natural body lumen, reducing the need for continuous active control and simplifying the operational complexity after initial deployment.
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical anchoring systems for use with a surgical instrument for endoluminal access are provided. The surgical instrument includes an outer sleeve defining a working channel therethrough. The outer sleeve is configured to be disposed within a first natural body lumen. A channel arm is configured to extend through the working channel and to move independently relative to each other. The channel arm has an anchor member and is configured to move between expanded and unexpanded states. When in the expanded state, the anchor member is configured to be disposed within a second natural body lumen. A control actuator extends along the channel arm and is operatively coupled to the anchor member, the control actuator being operatively coupled to a drive system that is configured to control motion of the channel arm to selectively manipulate an organ associated with the first and second natural body lumens.