Modular Seal Elements for Customizable Surgical Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical access devices for minimally invasive procedures are prefabricated and lack customization options, limiting surgeons' ability to tailor the device for specific procedures and patient needs.
Innovation Solution
A surgical access device comprising interchangeable elongate seal elements with mating features, such as rails and guides, and tissue coupling elements, allowing for customizable configurations to form seals and accommodate movement of surgical instruments while maintaining a seal between body cavities and the outside environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If surgical access devices are prefabricated with fixed configurations, then manufacturing and sterilization are simplified, but surgeons cannot customize the device for specific procedures or patient needs
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical access device is divided into separate modular components including seal elements, tissue coupling elements, and instrument receiving elements that can be independently manufactured, sterilized, and then assembled by the surgeon during the procedure to create a customized configuration suited to specific patient needs and surgical requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The modular components are designed with universal interfaces and standardized features that allow the same basic elements to be combined in multiple different configurations to serve various surgical procedures, making the system both versatile and adaptable while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple seal elements are used to provide customization options, then adaptability increases, but the number of components and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly is segmented into multiple interchangeable seal elements that can be independently selected and combined, allowing surgeons to customize the configuration by mixing and matching components rather than dealing with complex integrated structures
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple seal elements are designed to mate together through complementary mating elements that combine the components into a unified sealing structure, simplifying assembly while maintaining the ability to provide multiple configurations through different combinations of elements
3Adaptability or versatility
If seal elements include mating elements for interchangeability, then customization capability improves, but the risk of assembly errors and seal failures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mating elements incorporate asymmetric features such as shaped protrusions and corresponding recesses that allow components to be assembled in only the correct orientation, preventing assembly errors while maintaining interchangeability and customization capability
Solution Approach 2:
The design includes built-in alignment features and guiding structures that pre-position components correctly during assembly, preventing misalignment and potential seal failures before they can occur
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices are provided to allow for easy customization of a surgical access device by an end user. In one exemplary embodiment a surgical access device is provided that includes a plurality of elongate seal elements that are configured to form a sealed configuration between a surgical site and an outside environment. The seal elements can be disposed in a surgical opening and can mate directly to each other with the outermost seal elements mating directly to tissue of the opening. The seal elements can include one or more mating elements to provide the desired mating. The seal elements can also include sealable openings that are configured to receive surgical instruments for use at the surgical site. The sealable openings maintain the desired seal throughout the course of a surgical procedure. Exemplary methods for providing custom configurations on location are also provided.