Arthroscopic Meniscectomy Using Fluorescence-Guided Ultrasonic Resection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional arthroendoscopical meniscus surgery faces challenges in accurately resecting damaged meniscus tissue without damaging surrounding areas, due to unclear visualization of blood flow and vascular regions, leading to potential over-cutting and thermal damage.
Innovation Solution
The method involves administering a fluorescent agent to visualize blood flow under near-infrared light, setting an inclined resection surface using an ultrasonic treatment tool with adjustable cutting, and superimposing an imaginary resection line on the visible light image to ensure precise resection within the no-vascular area, preventing thermal damage and stress concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional resection tools (punch or shaver) are used to resect denatured meniscus tissue, then the resection can be performed, but over-cutting and thermal damage occur due to unclear visualization of vascular boundaries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies fluorescence imaging to visualize blood flow and vascular distribution in the meniscus, causing vascular areas to emit fluorescent light. This color/light change enables clear differentiation between vascular and no-vascular areas, allowing precise resection boundaries to be identified and preventing over-cutting and thermal damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements real-time fluorescence imaging feedback during the resection process, allowing the surgeon to continuously monitor blood flow patterns and adjust resection depth and boundaries accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures precise control over the resection process and prevents thermal damage by providing visual confirmation of vascular boundaries.
2Productivity
If conventional resection tools are used, then resection can be performed, but it is difficult to determine how far the resection should be performed due to unclear vascular area visualization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fluorescence imaging to make vascular areas emit visible light, transforming invisible blood flow information into visible fluorescent signals. This allows surgeons to clearly see the extent of vascular areas in real-time, providing complete information for determining resection boundaries and improving surgical efficiency by eliminating uncertainty about resection depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs fluorescence imaging before resection to pre-identify and map vascular boundaries, allowing the surgeon to plan the exact resection extent in advance. This preliminary visualization of vascular areas provides complete information needed to determine precise resection boundaries before the actual cutting begins.
3Manufacturing precision
If resection is performed by conventional tools, then the denatured part can be removed, but corner portions and irregularities occur on the cut surface requiring additional adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fluorescence imaging to visualize the entire meniscus structure and vascular distribution, allowing the surgeon to see the three-dimensional shape and identify areas requiring resection. This visual guidance enables precise control of the resection tool to create smooth, regular cut surfaces that follow the natural meniscus curvature, avoiding corner portions and irregularities that would require additional adjustment procedures.
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 approach allows for precise and efficient resection of meniscus tears with reduced thermal damage and improved stress distribution on the resection surface, enhancing surgical accuracy and reducing the need for additional adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
confirming whether the tear site reaches a vascular area in an inside of the meniscus, by performing, after the administering step, fluorescence observation by causing the fluorescent agent to emit fluorescence with use of near-infrared light
Implementation Method 2
a meniscectomy by an arthroendoscopical surgical method includes an identifying step of identifying a tear site of a meniscus having a curved shape; an administering step of administering a fluorescent agent to a vein
Data Source
AI summary
In an arthroendoscopical surgical method, a resection target area, which is emphasized by fluorescence with use of a fluorescent agent under excitation light, is identified on a meniscus, and a resection line or an imaginary resection line is drawn. Using an ultrasonic treatment tool and an arthroscope, the resection target area is resected by a probe which generates ultrasonic vibrations, based on the resection line or imaginary resection line under visible-light illumination, and an inclined resection surface is formed.