Extendable Blade Surgical Tool for Tissue Pocket Creation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for creating tissue pockets for implantable medical devices (IMDs) are inefficient, often resulting in variable depth, increased surgical time, and tissue trauma, which can affect the efficiency of wireless power transfer and communication between the IMD and external devices.
Innovation Solution
A surgical tool with extendable blades that can be actuated to a deployed configuration perpendicular to the shaft, allowing precise tissue separation at a specified depth, ensuring optimal placement of IMDs for efficient power transfer and communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional tissue separation methods are used, then tissue pockets can be created for IMD implantation, but surgical time increases and tissue trauma occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The blade transitions from a retracted configuration during insertion to a deployed configuration perpendicular to the shaft, enabling dynamic adaptation during the surgical procedure. This allows the blade to minimize trauma during insertion while maximizing cutting efficiency during tissue separation
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue separation function is divided into distinct phases: insertion with blades retracted, positioning at target depth, deployment of blades, and rotation for cutting. This segmentation allows optimization of each phase independently, reducing overall surgical time and trauma
2Manufacturing precision
If manual tissue separation is performed, then tissue pockets can be formed, but depth consistency varies affecting wireless power transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Manual tactile-based depth estimation is replaced with a mechanical depth stop system. The depth stop provides a physical reference that ensures consistent blade deployment depth across procedures, eliminating variability in pocket creation depth and ensuring reliable wireless power transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The blade orientation changes from parallel to perpendicular relative to the shaft upon deployment, and the depth of blade insertion is controlled by the depth stop parameter. These parameter changes ensure precise and consistent tissue separation at the intended depth
3Manufacturing precision
If blades are extended perpendicular to the shaft, then precise tissue separation at specified depth is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A hinge mechanism serves as an intermediary between the blade and shaft, enabling the blade to pivot from a retracted to a deployed perpendicular configuration. This intermediate mechanical element simplifies the overall system by providing a straightforward pivot mechanism rather than requiring complex articulation
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 tool reduces surgical time, minimizes tissue trauma, and ensures consistent depth for efficient wireless recharging and communication of IMDs by creating a precise tissue pocket for implantation.
Implementation Method 1
rotating the blade within the tissue to separate the first portion of tissue from the second portion of tissue
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and techniques are described for creating pockets in tissue for accepting implantable medical devices. For example, a surgical tool includes a shaft defining a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis, a handle coupled to the proximal end of the shaft, and one or more blades configured to move between a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the one or more blades extend, in the deployed configuration, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis at the distal end of the shaft. The one or more blades may be configured to separate tissue in the deployed configuration.