Handheld Medical Device Advancer with Reverse Clutch Grip Augmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elongate device advancers are ineffective for supporting small surgical devices like suture placement devices in laparoscopic procedures, leading to inefficiencies and increased risks due to gas leakage and loss of pneumoperitoneum, and require repetitive manual movements that slow down port closure processes.
Innovation Solution
An augmented, anti-slip handheld advancer with a manual control thumbwheel, nip, transmission, and reverse clutch system that provides a constant and adjustable grip to advance elongate medical devices efficiently through a channel pathway without slipping, allowing for precise control and reduced manual effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional elongate device advancers are used for supporting small surgical devices, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but the advancement process becomes slow and inefficient due to repetitive manual movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces repetitive manual mechanical movements with an automated mechanical drive system. The advancer includes a drive shaft with drive elements that automatically advance the elongate device through the pathway, eliminating the need for repeated manual pushing operations and significantly reducing procedure time.
Solution Approach 2:
The advancer is pre-configured with the elongate device in a ready-to-advance position. The drive system is pre-positioned within the advancer body, and the elongate device is loaded into the advancer before the surgical procedure begins, allowing immediate advancement without setup delays.
2Reliability
If manual advancement methods are used, then the device can be advanced, but the grip connection is insufficient leading to slippage and loss of control
Solution Approach 1:
The drive elements on the drive shaft feature curved or rounded contact surfaces that conform to the outer surface of the elongate device. This curved geometry increases the contact area and friction between the drive elements and the device, preventing slippage while maintaining smooth advancement and precise control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface parameters of the drive elements by adding friction-enhancing features such as ridges, grooves, or textured surfaces. These parameter changes increase the coefficient of friction between the drive elements and the elongate device, ensuring reliable grip connection without slippage.
3Measurement precision
If the advancer is designed for high precision control, then the advancement can be precise, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The advancer is divided into functional segments: a drive shaft with drive elements for advancement, a pathway definition structure for routing, and a body housing for support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function with simple geometry, avoiding the need for complex integrated structures while maintaining precise control.
4Ease of operation
If manual control is used for advancement, then the operator can control the process, but repetitive movements increase the duration of surgery and risk of complications
Solution Approach 1:
The drive shaft provides continuous advancement of the elongate device through the pathway in a single continuous motion, eliminating the need for repeated stop-and-go manual operations. This continuous action reduces the overall procedure time and minimizes the duration of surgical exposure, thereby reducing complication risks.
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
The solution enables efficient and precise advancement of elongate medical devices, reducing the time required for suture placement and port closure while minimizing the risk of gas leakage and pneumoperitoneum loss, thereby enhancing surgical efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a nip configured to engage the elongate medical device to advance the elongate medical device through the pathway
Data Source
AI summary
A drive-enhanceable handheld advancer is provided for advancing an elongate device through a pathway defined in an advancer body that includes a rotatable manual thumbwheel partially embedded in the body for receiving a user-exerted manual control movement from a thumb, and a manual drive having a nip, a transmission, and a reverse clutch. The transmission operatively connects the thumbwheel to the nip for driving advancement, and the reverse clutch maintains a first interference grip connection between the nip and the elongate device. The manual control thumbwheel can move inward responsive to user-applied grip movements to increase grip with the elongate device. The reverse clutch applies augmented force from grip movements to the nip for increasing the grip drive connection, which can be applied at a different angle from the inward movements. The reverse clutch can include slotted pivot supports for the thumbwheel and drive rollers on the advancer body.