Extended Surgical Blade for Sterilization and Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical cutting instruments face challenges with biological material clogging the suction passage due to the narrower suction tubing diameter, leading to incomplete sterilization of the non-disposable housing portion during ENT surgery.
Innovation Solution
A surgical cutting instrument design featuring a disposable blade that extends completely through the housing, allowing biological material to be suctioned directly through the blade and into a suction source, avoiding contamination and facilitating thorough sterilization by eliminating the need for specialized brushes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the suction tubing diameter is made smaller to increase suction force, then the suction capability is improved, but biological material clogs the suction passage
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is divided into two functional segments: a distal cutting end for tissue resection and a proximal non-cutting end that extends into the suction passage. This segmentation allows cut material to be immediately aspirated through the blade's internal lumen, preventing clogging in the external suction passage while maintaining strong suction capability through the narrower tubing.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction passage is nested within the blade structure itself. The blade contains an internal lumen that serves as a conduit for suction, effectively placing the suction passage inside the cutting instrument. This nested configuration allows cut material to be aspirated directly through the blade without traveling through the external suction tubing, eliminating clogging issues.
2Power
If the suction passage is made narrower to accommodate smaller tubing, then suction force is increased, but the sterilization process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The suction function is extracted from the external housing and integrated into the disposable blade. By placing the suction lumen inside the blade, the patent eliminates the need for complex sterilization of external suction passages. The entire suction system becomes part of the disposable component, which is discarded after use, simplifying the sterilization process for the reusable housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade with integrated suction lumen is designed as a disposable component. Instead of attempting to sterilize the complex narrow suction passages in the reusable housing, the entire blade assembly including the suction conduit is discarded after a single use. This approach eliminates sterilization complexity while maintaining effective suction capability.
3Length of moving object
If the blade is made shorter to fit within the housing, then the instrument compactness is improved, but biological material becomes trapped in the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is extended in the longitudinal dimension to protrude from the housing, while the suction function is moved to the internal lumen dimension. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the blade to be long enough to prevent material trapping without increasing the overall instrument footprint, as the suction conduit is contained within the blade itself rather than requiring external space.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade's internal lumen acts as an intermediary conduit between the cutting site and the external suction source. By providing this intermediate pathway within the blade structure, cut material is continuously evacuated during the cutting process, preventing accumulation and trapping in the housing even when the blade is extended.
4Reliability
If the blade extends completely through the housing, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting function and suction function are merged into a single integrated blade assembly. The blade simultaneously performs tissue resection at its distal end and provides an internal conduit for suction through its lumen. This merging eliminates the need for separate suction passages in the housing, reducing overall device complexity while ensuring complete sterilization since the blade is disposable.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a cutting instrument and as a suction conduit. This universal design allows a single component to perform multiple functions that would traditionally require separate elements, simplifying the overall device structure while ensuring that all surfaces contacting biological material are part of the disposable blade.
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
This design enhances the sterilization process by ensuring all cut biological material is contained within the disposable blade, preventing clogging and allowing for more effective cleaning and sterilization of the instrument, thus reducing contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
as cut material is suctioned through the blade and housing to a suction source
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6A
AI summary
An extended blade (102) of a surgical cutting instrument (100) is provided. The blade (102) may comprise a distal cutting end (109), a proximal non-cutting end (110), and an intermediate portion (111) that extends coaxially from the distal cutting end (109) to the proximal non-cutting end (110). The distal cutting end (109) may be located outside of a housing (101) of the instrument (100); the proximal non-cutting end (110) may be located at a posterior end of a suction portion (108) inside the housing (101); and the intermediate portion (111) may extend coaxially from the distal cutting portion (109), completely through a chamber portion (106) of the housing (101), and to the suction portion (108) to the distal cutting end (109). This configuration allows for biological material to be cut and aspirated completely through the disposable blade (102) and housing (101) to a suction source, avoiding contamination and improving instrument sterilization for surgeries.