Handheld Medical Device Advancer with Force Amplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elongate device advancers are inefficient and cumbersome for use in laparoscopic surgical procedures, particularly in suture placement and port closure, due to their complexity and size, which leads to challenges such as gas leakage and prolonged surgery durations.
Innovation Solution
A compact, manually driven elongate device advancer designed for single-hand operation, featuring a rotatable manual control and gripper-driver mechanism that amplifies the translation of elongate medical devices along a pathway, allowing for efficient and precise advancement without requiring multiple manual actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional elongate device advancers are used for laparoscopic surgical procedures, then the devices can perform suture placement and port closure functions, but the devices are complex and cumbersome, leading to prolonged surgery duration and increased risk of gas leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The manual control mechanism transforms rotational motion into linear advancement with mechanical advantage, changing the operational parameters to achieve faster device advancement while maintaining precise control, thereby reducing surgery duration without compromising pneumoperitoneum maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The advancer is divided into distinct functional components: a compact housing, a manual control mechanism, and a drive interface. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, resulting in a device that is both compact and highly efficient, addressing both time loss and reliability concerns
2Ease of operation
If conventional elongate device advancers are used, then device advancement can be achieved, but the complexity and size of the devices make them cumbersome for single-hand operation
Solution Approach 1:
The manual control mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical advantage for force amplification, transforms rotational to linear motion, and enables precise positioning. This multi-functionality within a single integrated component reduces overall device complexity while maintaining ease of single-hand operation
Solution Approach 2:
The advancer employs a simplified manual control design that replicates the essential functions of complex automated systems through mechanical means. The gripper-driver mechanism copies the advancement function with a simple rotary motion interface, reducing complexity while preserving operational ease
3Productivity
If multiple manual actions are required for device advancement, then precise control can be maintained, but the advancement process becomes inefficient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The manual control mechanism enables continuous advancement action through uninterrupted rotational motion, eliminating the need for repeated discrete manual actions. The mechanical advantage system maintains continuous force application throughout the advancement process, significantly improving productivity while keeping the control simple and intuitive
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational motion of the manual control can be performed in controlled periodic increments, allowing the surgeon to advance the device at an optimized rate. This periodic action maintains simplicity of operation while maximizing advancement speed and productivity
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 rapid and efficient advancement of elongate medical devices, reducing surgery time and minimizing risks associated with gas leakage, while maintaining pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The manual drive can convert the torque applied into the translation drive force and the rotation arc distance into the advancement distance. The translation drive force can be scaled by a force factor with respect to the torque applied by the thumb
Data Source
AI summary
A handheld advancer is provided for advancing an elongate device through a pathway defined in an advancer body and include a rotatable manual control partially embedded in the body to receive a user-exerted manual control movement from a thumb of a single hand that can hold and control the advancer and advancement. The advancer can include a manual drive arranged to convert torque applied by the thumb for a rotation arc distance into a translation drive force applied for translating the elongate device an advancement distance scaled at force factor and distance factor. The distance factor can be one or greater than one and translate the elongate device an amplified advancement distance compared with manual input. The advancer can include a nip having a pair of rollers extending into the pathway providing constant control and amplified translation via concave compressible surfaces forming continuous contact regions with the elongate device.