Frangible Cannula Distal End for Tumor Seeding Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tumor seeding occurs during surgical procedures when medical instruments contaminated with tumor cells are withdrawn, leading to the implantation of neoplastic cells along the instrument insertion tract.
Innovation Solution
A cannula with a distal end portion that includes a first groove and a first tether, allowing the distal end to break or bend when a threshold force is applied, thereby preventing the potential contamination from tract seeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard cannula is used during surgical procedures, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but tumor cells may be implanted along the instrument insertion tract causing tumor seeding
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula is divided into a proximal portion and a distal portion that can separate from each other. The distal portion is designed to break away at a predetermined location, creating a segmented structure that prevents tumor cell contamination of the proximal portion during withdrawal
Solution Approach 2:
The potentially contaminated distal portion is extracted or removed from the system by breaking away at a predetermined location. This extraction ensures that the distal portion, which may have contacted tumor cells, is separated and contained within the cannula tract, preventing tumor seeding along the insertion path
2Reliability
If the distal end portion is designed to break or bend, then tumor seeding is prevented, but the structural integrity of the cannula is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula has non-uniform structural properties along its length. The distal portion is designed with reduced structural integrity at specific locations (predetermined break locations) while the proximal portion maintains full structural strength. This local variation in quality allows the distal portion to break away while preserving the integrity of the proximal portion
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula is pre-designed with predetermined break locations and frangible connections established during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation ensures that when a breaking force is applied, the cannula will break at the predetermined location rather than at an unpredictable point, providing controlled separation to prevent tumor seeding
3Reliability
If a frangible connection is included in the cannula, then the distal portion can be separated to prevent contamination, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The material properties of the cannula are changed at specific locations to create frangible connections. By modifying parameters such as wall thickness, material composition, or structural geometry at predetermined break locations, the cannula is designed to break at these specific points when subjected to breaking forces, enabling controlled separation to prevent tumor seeding
Data Source
AI summary
A cannula for use in a surgical procedure includes a tubular shaft and a tether coupled to a distal end portion of the tubular shaft. The distal end portion of the tubular shaft is configured to turn inside out in response to a threshold proximally-oriented force applied to the tether. Sections of the distal end portion may break apart or separate from one another about a groove formed in the tubular shaft.