Modular Declog Unit for Surgical Debrider Suction Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical debriders equipped with suction lines often clog with debrided tissue, requiring manual intervention like stylets or pressure bulbs for clearing obstructions, which can be inefficient and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A modular declog unit comprising a hollow tubular connector with adjustable seals and a manually-operated pressure bulb that connects to the suction port of a surgical cutting device, allowing for the pressurization of the device to clear obstructions by expelling air and dislodging clogs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stylet is used to clear clogs in surgical debriders, then the obstruction can be removed, but the procedure becomes more complex and requires additional manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the declogging function from the main surgical debrider body by providing a separate, removable stylet that can be inserted into the suction line. This allows the clog-clearing function to be performed by a simple, dedicated component rather than requiring a complex integrated mechanism within the debrider itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The stylet acts as an intermediary tool between the operator and the clogged suction line. Instead of requiring the debrider to have an built-in complex declogging mechanism, the stylet serves as a simple mediating instrument that can be manually inserted to clear obstructions and then removed.
2Reliability
If a manually-operated pressure bulb is used to purge clogs, then obstructions can be cleared, but the operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex pressure bulb mechanism from the declogging process and replaces it with a simple stylet that uses the existing suction pressure of the debrider to clear clogs. This extraction of the pressurization function eliminates the need for manual bulb squeezing while maintaining effective clog clearing.
Solution Approach 2:
The stylet utilizes the debrider's own suction pressure to clear clogs automatically when inserted. The system serves itself by using its existing operational pressure to purge obstructions without requiring external manual pressurization devices or additional energy input from the operator.
3Reliability
If traditional decloggers are used to clear obstructions, then clogs can be removed, but surgical downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stylet is designed to be pre-loaded and ready for immediate insertion into the suction line when a clog occurs. This preliminary preparation of the declogging tool allows for rapid response to obstructions without requiring assembly or setup time, minimizing interruption to the surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stylet enables rapid clog clearing by being quickly inserted and removed in a single swift action. This rushing through the declogging process minimizes the time the surgical procedure is interrupted, allowing the surgeon to quickly restore suction functionality and continue the operation without prolonged downtime.
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
Facilitates efficient and effective clearing of obstructions in surgical cutting devices, reducing manual effort and minimizing downtime during procedures by integrating a pressurized air system within the declog unit for automatic clog removal.
Implementation Method 1
activating the squeeze bulb to pressurize the surgical cutting device to clear the obstruction
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device includes a hollow tubular connector having a first open end and a second open end, the first open end configured to be connected to a suction port of a surgical cutting device, and the second open end configured to be connected to a source of pressurized air, the hollow tubular connector including a first seal located proximate the first open end and having a first diameter, the first seal being configured to sealingly accommodate a tubular shank, of a first diameter, of a blade of the surgical cutting device.