Surgical Introducer Receptacle for Accurate Navigation Probe Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical retractor systems face challenges in accurately guiding navigation probes during surgeries due to imprecision, potential tissue damage, and difficulties in maintaining probe orientation and visibility, especially when integrated with computerized guidance systems.
Innovation Solution
A surgical introducer system with a navigation probe receptacle that includes a tapered introducer design and a probe receptacle at the distal end to maintain probe alignment and visibility, allowing for precise navigation and tissue protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a navigation probe is manually held or loosely fitted in the introducer, then the surgeon can freely manipulate the probe, but the probe position becomes imprecise and may move during surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation probe is nested within a dedicated receptacle chamber in the introducer, with the probe tip fitting precisely into a recessed seating area. This nesting structure provides secure positioning while allowing the probe to be inserted and removed when needed, resolving the contradiction between freedom of manipulation and position accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle chamber acts as an intermediary structure between the probe and the surgeon's hand. It provides a controlled environment that maintains probe position accuracy through its geometric constraints, while still allowing easy insertion and removal of the probe, thus mediating between precision and ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the introducer tip is modified to accommodate a probe, then navigation guidance is enabled, but the structural integrity and sealing of the introducer may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The probe accommodation feature is nested within the existing introducer structure as an internal receptacle chamber rather than an external modification. This allows the introducer to maintain its original structural integrity and sealing properties while providing integrated probe positioning capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe receptacle chamber is merged with the introducer body as an integrated feature, combining the functions of structural support and probe positioning into a single unified structure. This eliminates the need for separate attachment components that could compromise reliability.
3Measurement precision
If the probe receptacle extends to the distal end of the introducer, then precise probe positioning is achieved, but the introducer passage is blocked and fluid cannot flow through
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle chamber is segmented with an open distal end that allows fluid to pass through. The probe tip seating area is confined to a specific region within the chamber, allowing the chamber to extend to the distal end for positioning accuracy while maintaining fluid flow pathways through the open structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle chamber provides localized probe positioning precision at its distal end, while the rest of the introducer passage remains open for fluid flow. The geometric constraints are applied only where needed for probe positioning, leaving other areas open for their primary function.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical introducer system having an outer introducer sidewall extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal introducer end to a distal introducer end, an inner introducer sidewall extending within the outer introducer sidewall along the longitudinal axis and forming an introducer passage extending in a distal direction from a proximal passage opening at the proximal introducer end to an introducer passage end wall located proximal to the distal introducer end, and an end wall passage extending from the introducer passage end wall towards the distal introducer end. The introducer end wall passage joins the introducer end wall at one or more end wall edges defining an axial stop ring configured to contact the distal tip of a navigation probe between the probe shaft and a terminal end of the distal probe tip at a line of contact to thereby prevent movement of the navigation probe in the distal direction.