Iris Valve Locking Mechanism for Laparoscopic Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current access devices for endoscopic surgery, such as trocars and hand access devices, lack an efficient and adjustable iris valve mechanism that effectively maintains pneumoperitoneum while allowing for flexible manipulation of surgical instruments or hands, leading to potential fluid leakage and reduced surgical precision.
Innovation Solution
An access device featuring an adjustable iris valve with a resilient diaphragm and rotating frame members, utilizing a lock mechanism with a ratchet and pawl or ball and wedge track system to control the valve's opening and closing, ensuring secure sealing and adjustable passage sizes for various surgical needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional trocar or hand access device is used, then access to internal tissue is provided, but the sealing effectiveness is reduced leading to potential fluid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The iris valve incorporates rotating frame members (proximal and distal) that can dynamically adjust the passage size between fully open and fully closed positions. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the valve to maintain optimal sealing effectiveness while accommodating different surgical instruments or hands, preventing fluid leakage better than static traditional access devices
Solution Approach 2:
The valve mechanism changes the physical parameter of passage size through rotation of frame members. By adjusting the opening size parameter from fully open to fully closed, the system maintains reliable sealing (preventing fluid leakage) while allowing flexible manipulation of different sized instruments, directly resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the iris valve is made fully adjustable for different instrument sizes, then versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is segmented into modular components: a ratchet component with teeth, a pawl component with engagement surfaces, and a control ring with pusher. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function independently, making the complex valve adjustment mechanism more manageable and maintainable while achieving full adjustability for different instrument sizes
Solution Approach 2:
The control ring acts as an intermediary component that translates rotational input into linear motion of the pusher, which then actuates the pawl to engage or disengage from the ratchet teeth. This intermediary mechanism provides a user-friendly interface for adjusting the valve while managing the complexity of the underlying lock mechanism
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 device maintains pneumoperitoneum effectively, allowing for precise surgical manipulation while minimizing fluid leakage and accommodating different surgical instrument sizes, thereby enhancing the efficiency and safety of endoscopic procedures.
Implementation Method 1
an adjustable iris valve (20) having an opened position and a closed position
Implementation Method 2
a lock mechanism with a ratchet and pawl or ball and wedge track system to control the valve's opening and closing
Implementation Method 3
a lock mechanism with a ratchet and pawl or ball and wedge track system
Data Source
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AI summary
A laparoscopic surgical access device comprises a first frame and a second frame having relative axial positions. A flexible and resilient iris valve is connected to the first and second frames and has a closed position and an opened position based on the relative angular position of the first and second frames. A lock is connected to the first and second frames, the lock being selectively operative to prevent relative rotational movement in a first rotational direction. One embodiment uses a ratchet and pawl mechanism operable with a control ring. Another embodiment uses a ratchet and pawl mechanism operable with a button. Yet another embodiment uses a wedge track and ball mechanism.