Tissue Manipulation End Effector with Living Hinges for Prostate Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
During prostatectomy procedures, particularly laparoscopic prostatectomies, the prostate gland is difficult to position and maneuver, and there is a risk of damaging neurovascular bundles, necessitating precise tissue manipulation and easy disassembly for cleaning and sterilization.
Innovation Solution
A tissue manipulation device designed for insertion through the urethra, featuring a handle, shaft, and end effector that can be disassembled for cleaning, with a securing member and wire mechanism to precisely manipulate the prostate, allowing for precise tissue engagement and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a tissue manipulation device is used to precisely manipulate the prostate, then the precision of tissue manipulation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into modular components including a handle assembly, shaft assembly, and end effector assembly that can be separated and reassembled. This segmentation allows precise manipulation capabilities in each module while keeping the overall device manageable and sterilizable by separating critical precision components from sterilization components.
Solution Approach 2:
The end effector assembly is designed to be insertable through the shaft assembly, which itself is insertable through the handle assembly. This nested configuration allows precise manipulation components to be contained within larger structural components, achieving precision without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
2Ease of repair
If the device is designed for easy disassembly for cleaning and sterilization, then the ease of maintenance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a secure but separable connection system between the handle assembly, shaft assembly, and end effector assembly. Each assembly can be independently removed and sterilized, with connection features that ensure proper reassembly. This segmentation directly improves ease of maintenance while the modular design keeps complexity manageable through standardization of connection interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The device includes pre-configured disassembly features such as removable end effectors and separable shaft sections that are designed to be easily detached before sterilization. These preliminary design considerations for disassembly are built into the structure, making the complex task of taking apart a multi-component device straightforward and systematic.
3Measurement precision
If the prostate is manipulated to expose tissue during dissection, then the surgical precision is improved, but the risk of damaging neurovascular bundles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector is designed with localized tissue engagement features that can apply force or tension to specific areas of the prostate while leaving adjacent neurovascular bundles undisturbed. The manipulation device provides localized control points that enable precise positioning and tensioning of prostate tissue without affecting surrounding sensitive structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The device acts as an intermediary tool between the surgeon and the prostate tissue, providing mechanical advantage and precise control. The shaft and end effector combinations serve as intermediaries that translate surgeon input into controlled, precise tissue manipulation, reducing the risk of inadvertent damage to neurovascular bundles through uncontrolled movements.
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue manipulation device includes an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of a shaft portion, the end effector assembly including a tissue engaging assembly having first and second tissue engaging arms that each include a first arm segment, a second arm segment, and a third arm segment that are coupled by living hinges. When an adjustment member coupled to the end effector assembly is displaced from a first position to a second position, the end effector assembly transition from a first undeployed position, in which the first and second tissue engaging arms are disposed a first configuration adapted for insertion into a patient, to a second deployed position, in which the first and second tissue engaging arms are disposed a second configuration adapted to manipulate a tissue of the patient.