Expandable Rib Surgical Retactor with X-Ray Transparency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current minimally invasive spinal surgery retractors cause tissue trauma, hemorrhaging, and limited decompression due to fixed diameters and shapes, leading to postoperative pain and scar tissue formation, and lack the ability to adjust opening shapes during procedures.

Innovation Solution

A surgical retractor with expandable ribs that can change shape and size during surgery, equipped with a mechanism for linear and rotational movement, and a flexible sleeve to prevent tissue entry, along with a built-in light source and x-ray transparent components for improved visibility and tissue pressure monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed diameter retractor is used, then the structure is simple, but the decompression capability is limited and cannot adapt to different tissue pressures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecompression capabilityVSAvoidretractor structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retractor employs expandable ribs that can dynamically change from a closed circular configuration to an expanded open configuration, allowing the device to adapt its decompression capability to match different tissue pressures and surgical requirements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The retractor enables parameter changes in its effective diameter and opening shape by expanding or contracting individual ribs, allowing adjustment of decompression capacity from 0 to 80 mmHg to match varying tissue pressure conditions without requiring multiple different retractor designs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a rigid retractor structure is used, then the manufacturing is easy, but it causes tissue trauma and hemorrhaging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue traumaVSAvoidretractor manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The retractor incorporates a flexible sleeve made of elastomeric material that can deform to conform to the shape of surrounding tissues, reducing mechanical trauma and hemorrhaging while still providing sufficient structural support for the surgical procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The retractor is divided into multiple independent ribs that can be expanded or contracted individually, allowing the structure to adapt to tissue contours and reduce concentrated pressure points that would cause trauma, while each rib remains relatively simple in design for easy manufacturing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed shape retractor is used, then the device is simple, but it cannot adjust opening shapes during procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening shape adjustmentVSAvoidretractor mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retractor features dynamically adjustable ribs that can be independently expanded or contracted to create various opening shapes including circular, oval, rectangular, and custom configurations, allowing real-time shape adjustment during surgery while maintaining a unified simple structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The retractor consists of multiple independent ribs that can be controlled separately, enabling the formation of different opening shapes by expanding or contracting specific ribs while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple and manageable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional retractors are used, then the procedure is straightforward, but postoperative pain and scar tissue formation occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepostoperative painVSAvoidsurgical procedure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible sleeve material conforms to tissue shapes and distributes mechanical forces evenly, reducing concentrated stress points that cause postoperative pain and scar tissue formation while maintaining ease of surgical insertion and operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamically adjustable ribs allow the retractor to adapt to tissue pressure changes during and after surgery, providing continuous gentle support that reduces mechanical trauma and subsequent pain and scar tissue formation compared to fixed retractors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8663102B2Surgical retractor

Publication Date: 2014.03.04 MENI MED

AI summary

A surgical retractor and a method of minimally invasive surgery, wherein the surgical retractor includes ribs and a mechanism for transferring of linear and rotational movements of the ribs and wherein each rib can be easily replaced without use of any additional tools. According to embodiments of the present invention, specific parts composing the surgical retractor are made of materials transparent to Röntgen rays (x-rays).