Flexible-Tip Cannula for Deep Pelvic Access Through One Incision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laparoscopic surgery faces challenges in accessing the deep pelvic space due to obstruction by the sacral promontory, necessitating additional incisions for fluid removal, which increases complexity and infection risk.
Innovation Solution
A suction-irrigation cannula with a flexible distal tube that arcs around the sacral promontory, allowing access to the deep pelvic space through a single incision by slidingly engaging an inner tube within a rigid outer tube and deploying a flexible section to bypass the obstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a rigid suction-irrigation cannula is used to access the deep pelvic space, then the cannula structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the sacral promontory obstructs access to the deep pelvic space requiring additional incisions
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula incorporates a flexible distal section that can dynamically change its configuration to arc around the sacral promontory, allowing the tip to reach the deep pelvic space while the proximal portion remains stable for manipulation. This dynamic flexibility resolves the contradiction between structural simplicity and operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula is divided into distinct segments: a rigid proximal portion for structural support and manipulation, and a flexible distal portion for navigating around the sacral promontory. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function, maintaining ease of manufacture while enabling access to the deep pelvic space.
2Ease of operation
If an additional incision is made to access the deep pelvic space, then access to the deep pelvic space is achieved, but the number of incisions increases leading to higher infection risk and surgical complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible distal section allows the cannula to dynamically navigate around the sacral promontory through a single incision, eliminating the need for additional incisions. This resolves the contradiction by providing operational access without increasing surgical complexity or infection risk.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid cannula is used, then the cannula maintains structural stability, but it cannot arc around the sacral promontory to reach the deep pelvic space
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula is segmented into a rigid proximal portion that maintains structural stability for manipulation and a flexible distal portion that can arc around the sacral promontory. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between structural stability and operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the cannula have different mechanical properties: the proximal portion is rigid for stability and control, while the distal portion is flexible for navigation. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between overall structural stability and localized flexibility needed for curving around the sacral promontory.
Data Source
AI summary
A cannula to access the deep pelvic space of a patient from an incision near a patient's navel, wherein the deep pelvic space is generally inaccessible from the incision due to being obstructed by the patient's sacral promontory. The cannula is envisioned having an inner tube that slides within a rigid outer tube. The inner tube has a suction-irrigation tip located at the distal tube end and a flexible tube section interposed between the suction-irrigation tip and a rigid inner tube, which extends from the flexible tube section, outside of the proximal end of the rigid outer tube, where it is attached to a handle. The handle has an exit port centered in the handle (in communication with the suction-irrigation tip aperture), which is configured to suck fluid buildup in the deep pelvic space when the exit port is connected to a suction source via a suction tube.