Endoscopic Vessel Harvester With Visual Cutting Orientation Cue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic vessel harvesting systems require multiple tools, increasing the potential for injury to the bypass conduit and prolonging the procedure duration due to their cumbersome nature.
Innovation Solution
A unitary endoscopic vessel harvesting device with an elongated body featuring a distal tip and integrated cutting unit, including a first and second cutting portion that are moveable and rotatable relative to each other, accompanied by a visual cue for orientation, allowing for simultaneous dissection, tributary sealing, and main vessel harvesting with reduced manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple tools are used for vessel harvesting, then dissection and cutting functions can be performed, but the procedure duration increases and the potential for vessel injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines dissection, tributary sealing, and main vessel harvesting functions into a single unitary device with integrated cutting elements. This merging of multiple functions into one device eliminates the need for multiple separate tool insertions, thereby reducing procedure duration while minimizing vessel injury risk through reduced manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The unitary device performs multiple functions including dissection of the vessel from surrounding tissue, sealing of tributaries, and cutting of the main vessel. This multi-functional approach allows a single device to replace multiple specialized tools, reducing both time and injury risk.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple tools are used for vessel harvesting, then various surgical functions can be performed, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates dissection, sealing, and cutting functions into a single unitary device structure. The device includes an elongated body with integrated cutting elements that can perform multiple surgical functions, thereby reducing the number of separate tools needed while maintaining comprehensive surgical capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The unitary device is designed to perform multiple surgical functions including dissection of the vessel from surrounding tissue, sealing of tributaries through the cutting elements, and cutting of the main vessel. This universal design allows one device to replace multiple specialized instruments.
3Manufacturing precision
If cutting portions are made rotatable for optimal positioning, then cutting precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates rotatable cutting portions that can be positioned at different orientations relative to the longitudinal axis of the device. This dynamic positioning capability allows the cutting elements to be oriented optimally for cutting vessels at various angles, improving cutting precision while the rotation mechanism remains integrated into the unitary device structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Unitary endoscopic vessel harvesting devices with an elastic force are disclosed. In some embodiments, such devices comprise an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, a tip disposed at the distal end of the elongated body. The tip having a visual cue indicating a location of at least one cutting element extending from the elongated body.