Flexible Instrument Guide with Distal Pockets for Surgical Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical instrument placement can be complicated by the shape, position, sensitivity, or geometry of target tissue and surrounding anatomy, as well as the nature and timing of surgical procedures, making it challenging to accurately position instruments within the surgical field.
Innovation Solution
An instrument guide comprising an elongate flexible strip with distal and medial pockets and an anchor, allowing for the deployment and positioning of surgical instruments near target tissue, with optional translucent pockets and adaptable geometry for various surgical instruments and procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If surgical instruments are positioned directly in the surgical field, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but the placement becomes challenging due to the shape, position, sensitivity, or geometry of target tissue and surrounding anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an instrument guide as an intermediary device between the surgeon and the target tissue. The guide facilitates instrument placement by providing a pathway through complex anatomy, acting as a mediator that simplifies the positioning process while maintaining precision. The guide is inserted first, then the surgical instrument is advanced through or alongside it to reach the target location accurately.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument guide is positioned in advance before the surgical instrument is deployed. By establishing the guide pathway first, the complex task of precise instrument placement is broken into simpler steps: first place the guide (which is more forgiving and easier to position), then advance the instrument through the pre-established pathway. This preliminary action resolves the positioning difficulty while maintaining precision.
2Measurement precision
If the surgical field is small or the target tissue is difficult to access, then the surgical precision can be improved by using guides, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument guide is divided into multiple functional segments: a distal portion with pockets for holding instruments, a medial portion for navigation, and a proximal portion for control. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while keeping the overall device manageable. The modular structure reduces complexity by breaking down the guide into manageable sections that can be independently designed and controlled.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical instrument is nested within or alongside the instrument guide during the placement process. The guide provides an outer pathway structure, and the instrument is advanced through this pathway. This nesting arrangement allows the instrument to be guided precisely without requiring the entire guide structure to be complex - the guide simply needs to provide the pathway, while the instrument follows within it.
Data Source
AI summary
An instrument guide and method for use. An elongate flexible body has a proximal end and a distal end. The elongate body has two portions, one or more resilient than the other. A distal pocket is positioned adjacent the distal end of the elongate flexible body. An anchor is provided to attach the guide to a surgical instrument.