Integrated Lip Retractor Guard with Suction and LED Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical tools and methods fail to adequately protect the lips and oral commissure from electrosurgical burns, airway fires, and surgical smoke exposure during ENT and oral surgery, while also lacking effective illumination and suction systems.
Innovation Solution
A combination lip retractor and guard with integrated suction and light-emitting diodes, designed to retract and insulate the lips, provide suction for smoke evacuation, and illuminate the oral cavity, constructed from heat-resistant materials to prevent burns and improve surgical visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional lip retractors and separate suction devices are used, then the surgical field can be accessed and smoke can be evacuated, but the lips remain exposed to electrosurgical burns and the surgical team is exposed to harmful smoke plume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple protective and functional elements into a single integrated lip retractor device. The retractor includes built-in electrosurgical isolation barriers that prevent burns, integrated suction ports for smoke evacuation, and protective shields for the oral commissure. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate devices and provides comprehensive protection while maintaining ease of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The lip retractor is designed as a multi-functional device that simultaneously provides mechanical retraction, electrosurgical isolation, smoke evacuation, and oral commissure protection. The device can be used across various ENT and oral surgical procedures, adapting to different surgical needs while maintaining its core protective functions.
2Reliability
If electrosurgical devices are used without integrated suction, then the surgical procedure can proceed efficiently, but gases and smoke accumulate in the oral cavity increasing fire risk
Solution Approach 1:
The lip retractor is pre-configured with integrated suction ports and channels that are ready to evacuate smoke and gases as soon as electrosurgical activity begins. The suction system is positioned to proactively capture smoke at its source near the oral cavity, preventing accumulation before fire risk increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated suction system acts as an intermediary between the electrosurgical device and the surgical environment. It intercepts and removes harmful smoke and gases before they can accumulate to dangerous levels, while allowing the electrosurgical procedure to continue uninterrupted.
3Reliability
If surgical assistants hold suction devices manually, then smoke evacuation can be performed, but the assistant may become tired or lose attention increasing safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The lip retractor incorporates built-in suction ports that are integrated into the device structure itself. The suction capability is self-contained within the retractor, eliminating the need for external manual suction devices held by assistants. The device serves its own smoke evacuation needs through its integrated system.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If dental lip retractors are used for visual access, then the teeth can be accessed, but they do not provide adequate protection from electrosurgical devices or powered instrumentation
Solution Approach 1:
The lip retractor incorporates electrosurgical isolation barriers made from materials that are inherently resistant to electrosurgical energy and heat. These composite materials provide both mechanical retraction functionality and protective isolation properties, creating a device that is both protective and adaptable to various surgical 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
The solution effectively reduces the risk of lip burns and airway fires, enhances smoke evacuation, and provides adequate illumination, improving surgical safety and visibility during procedures like tonsillectomies.
Implementation Method 1
illuminated by a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Implementation Method 2
integrated suction, and surgical smoke plume filter
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical guard configured to protect a patient's oral cavity during surgery is disclosed. The surgical guard includes a first arcuate wing comprising a first end and a second end and a second arcuate wing comprising a first end and a second end. A wing connector couples the first end of the first arcuate wing and the first end of the second arcuate wing. The first arcuate wing, the second arcuate wing, and the wing connector are configured to retract and insulate the lips and oral commissure of a patient during oral surgery.