Laparoscopic Morcellator with Torque Balancing and Gas Flow Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laparoscopic morcellators are time-consuming, unsafe, inefficient, and prone to accidental damage due to manual operation, lack of safe tissue containment, and inefficiency in handling large tissue volumes, which prolongs surgery time and increases the risk of tissue seeding or injury to surrounding tissues.
Innovation Solution
A laparoscopic morcellator with a motor-actuated, enclosed mesh mechanism that applies inward-directed cutting force to tissue using compliant elongate members, featuring torque balancing, gas flow regulation, and safety feedback mechanisms to ensure safe and efficient tissue removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual morcellation methods are used, then the procedure can be performed with simple devices, but the operation time is prolonged and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical morcellation with an automated motor-driven cutting system. The motorized cutter automatically advances through tissue, eliminating the need for manual manipulation and significantly reducing operating time while increasing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The morcellation system is designed to perform cutting operations autonomously once positioned. The automated cutter advances and retracts automatically, and the containment bag seals itself, reducing the need for continuous surgeon intervention and improving operational efficiency.
2Reliability
If conventional morcellators without containment are used, then the device structure is simpler, but tissue seeding and harmful effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested structure where the cutting mechanism is contained within a sealed bag, which itself is contained within the surgical site. This multi-layer containment system prevents tissue dispersion while allowing the cutting operation to proceed, eliminating tissue seeding risk without significantly complicating the overall device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The containment bag acts as an intermediary between the cutting mechanism and the surrounding surgical environment. It isolates the cutting process, preventing direct contact between morcellated tissue and surrounding structures, thereby eliminating tissue seeding while maintaining a relatively simple device design.
3Manufacturing precision
If motor-actuated mesh mechanism is used, then cutting precision and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible mesh mechanism that can conform to tissue contours while maintaining cutting precision. The mesh structure provides both containment and cutting functions, reducing the need for additional rigid components and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite improved precision capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor-actuated mesh mechanism is designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing it to adapt to different tissue types and cutting requirements. This dynamic capability provides precise cutting control while using a single adaptable mechanism rather than multiple fixed components, thereby limiting complexity increase.
4Productivity
If piece-wise morcellation is used, then the procedure can be performed with simpler equipment, but productivity decreases and operating time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous morcellation where the motor-driven cutter operates without interruption, continuously advancing through tissue and automatically retracting. This eliminates the stop-start nature of piece-wise morcellation, significantly increasing tissue removal rate and productivity while using a single integrated motorized system rather than multiple simpler devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide a laparoscopic morcellating device and method for removing tissue from a body cavity. The morcellating device includes a containment mechanism having an aperture, a cutting mechanism designed to fit into an interior space of the containment mechanism and a retractor mechanism that is coupled to the cutting mechanism. The containment mechanism and cutting mechanism combination surrounds the tissue and the aperture of the containment mechanism is closed around the tissue. The morcellating device further includes a motor for actuating the retractor such that the cutting mechanism constricts and morcellates the tissue. The laparoscopic morcellating device further allows for torque balancing of the retractor mechanism, gas flow regulation of the body cavity, and safety feedback mechanisms that can alert the surgeon.