Dynamically Expandable Cannula for Minimally Invasive Spinal Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional surgical procedures cause significant trauma, scarring, and prolonged recovery due to extensive tissue disruption, while current minimally invasive techniques often require prolonged tissue retraction and multiple steps for access, leading to increased complexity and morbidity.
Innovation Solution
A cannula with a dynamically expandable working channel that can be enlarged by a device inserted through it, allowing for minimally invasive access to surgical sites with reduced tissue disruption, and automatically returning to its original size after the device is removed, facilitating efficient access and minimizing tissue trauma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional surgical procedures are used to access deep surgical sites, then adequate access to the surgical site is achieved, but tissue trauma, scarring, and recovery time are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula incorporates a dynamically expandable working channel that can transition between a compressed delivery configuration and an expanded working configuration. This dynamic structure allows the channel to be small during insertion to minimize tissue trauma, then expand to provide adequate access for surgical instruments and implants, resolving the contradiction between minimal invasion and sufficient access.
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula design nests the expandable working channel within a delivery sheath during insertion. The working channel is compressed within the sheath, allowing the entire assembly to pass through a small incision. Once positioned, the working channel is deployed from the sheath and expanded to its full size, providing the necessary access while maintaining minimal initial tissue disruption.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If current minimally invasive techniques are used, then tissue disruption is minimized, but the procedure requires prolonged tissue retraction and multiple steps
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula combines multiple functions into a single integrated device: it serves as both the access pathway and the delivery mechanism for implants. The working channel is configured to receive and guide various surgical instruments and implants directly to the target site, eliminating the need for separate retraction devices and multiple access steps, thereby reducing procedural complexity while maintaining minimal tissue disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable working channel is designed to accommodate multiple different instruments and implant types throughout its length. This universal access pathway can receive cutting instruments, reaming tools, and various interbody implants without requiring changes to the access device itself, simplifying the overall procedure while maintaining minimally invasive benefits.
3Ease of operation
If a larger access channel is used to deliver implants, then implant delivery is facilitated, but tissue trauma and scarring are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The working channel transitions from a compressed small-diameter state during insertion to an expanded large-diameter state during implant delivery. This dynamic size change allows the channel to provide adequate access for implant passage while maintaining a small profile during tissue penetration, thereby facilitating implant delivery without increasing scarring or tissue trauma.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameter of the working channel diameter is changed dynamically during the procedure. The channel is inserted in a compressed state with a small diameter to minimize tissue disruption, then expanded to a larger diameter to facilitate implant delivery. This parameter change allows the same structure to serve both purposes without compromising either tissue preservation or implant access.
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 cannula system enables minimally invasive surgical procedures with reduced tissue trauma, shorter recovery times, and decreased complexity by dynamically expanding the access channel as needed and automatically returning to its original size, thus minimizing tissue morbidity and scarring.
Implementation Method 1
a cannula having an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end and including a working channel dynamically expandable from a first, unexpanded configuration
Implementation Method 2
In response to disengagement of the device with the working channel, the working channel returns to the first, unexpanded configuration
Data Source
AI summary
In one form, a system for use in percutaneous surgical procedures includes a cannula having an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end and including a working channel dynamically expandable from a first, unexpanded configuration. The system also includes a device that is positionable in and engageable with the working channel to expand the working channel from the first configuration as the device is moved through the working channel. In response to disengagement of the device with the working channel, the working channel returns to the first, unexpanded configuration. In one aspect of this form, the device includes an interbody spinal implant that is deliverable to a surgical site through the working channel of the cannula. In another form, a method for performing a percutaneous surgical procedure is provided. However, different forms and applications are envisioned.