Flexible Entry Guide for Minimally Invasive Surgery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Minimally invasive surgical procedures face challenges in accessing distant surgical sites within the body due to limitations in the reach and flexibility of existing endoscopes, which often require multiple incisions and result in longer recovery times and increased risks of infection.

Innovation Solution

A flexible entry guide system with a robotic surgical arm and actuator assembly that uses fewer control cables and inserts devices into lumens to steer and stiffen the guide, allowing for greater flexibility and reach without increasing the guide's diameter, enabling access to surgical sites through a single port and reducing tissue interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If endoscopes are used to access distant surgical sites, then reach is improved, but the ability to reach sites substantially away from the direction of insertion is limited due to articulation constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereachVSAvoidability to reach sites away from insertion direction

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The entry guide incorporates a flexible, dynamically articulating shaft that can bend and steer in multiple directions along its length. This dynamic flexibility allows the guide to reach surgical sites substantially away from the initial insertion direction, overcoming the rigid articulation limitations of conventional endoscopes while maintaining extended reach capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The entry guide utilizes a flexible shaft construction with segmented or corrugated structure that allows controlled bending and steering. This flexible design enables the guide to navigate complex anatomical paths and access distant surgical sites that require significant deviation from the insertion axis, while the shaft maintains sufficient structural integrity to support surgical instruments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Strength

If the guide diameter is increased to improve stiffness, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to pass through small natural orifices is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestiffnessVSAvoidability to pass through small orifices

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The entry guide employs local reinforcement strategies where stiffening elements are selectively positioned only in specific regions of the shaft that require additional structural support. This allows the guide to maintain adequate stiffness for instrument support while keeping the overall diameter small enough to pass through natural orifices, as the reinforcement is localized rather than uniform throughout the entire shaft

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The entry guide shaft is constructed using composite material structures that combine flexible outer layers with embedded stiffening elements. This composite construction provides the necessary stiffness and structural stability to support surgical instruments while maintaining a compact diameter that enables passage through small natural orifices, achieving both mechanical strength and minimal invasiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple incisions are made to access surgical sites, then accessibility to various sites is improved, but recovery time increases and infection risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility to surgical sitesVSAvoidrecovery time and infection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The entry guide is designed as a universal access system that can reach multiple different surgical sites through a single incision or natural orifice. The flexible, articulating shaft can be steered to access various anatomical locations, eliminating the need for multiple incisions and thereby reducing recovery time and infection risk while maintaining versatility in site accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The entry guide acts as an intermediary device that enables access to distant surgical sites through a single proximal incision. By serving as a flexible conduit that can navigate complex anatomical pathways, it eliminates the need for multiple direct incisions at different body sites, thereby reducing the number of wounds required while maintaining access to various surgical locations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12042120B2Methods and apparatus to shape flexible entry guides for minimally invasive surgery

Publication Date: 2024.07.23 INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS INC

AI summary

An apparatus for performing surgical procedures is disclosed including a flexible entry guide tube and a first steering device. The guide tube has one or more lumens extending along its length from a proximal end to substantially at or near a distal end. At least one of the one or more lumens is an instrument lumen with open ends to receive a flexible shaft of a surgical tool. The first steering device is insertable into the instrument lumen to shape the guide tube as it is inserted through an opening in a body and along a path towards a surgical site. The apparatus may further include a flexible locking device to couple to the flexible entry guide tube and selectively rigidize the guide tube to hold its shape. The guide tube may be steered by remote control with one or more actuators.