Motor-Driven Laparoscopic Seal Assembly for Abdominal Pressure Maintenance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
During hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures, existing technologies fail to maintain abdominal pressure effectively during hand exchanges, leading to potential compromise of the internal environment.
Innovation Solution
A motor-driven laparoscopic seal assembly with an iris seal cap and a motor-driven drive assembly, utilizing a worm gear or pinion gear mechanism, allows for controlled opening and closing of the seal to maintain a gas-tight barrier and minimize abdominal pressure loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a manual seal is used during hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures, then the structure is simple, but abdominal pressure is compromised during hand exchanges
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly incorporates a motor-driven drive assembly that dynamically adjusts the seal between open and closed states. The upper seal ring rotates relative to the lower seal ring to open or close the seal, with the motor providing controlled rotational movement. This dynamic adjustment allows the seal to adapt to different operational states (hand insertion, exchange, removal) while maintaining abdominal pressure during critical moments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated motor-driven system. The motor-driven drive assembly includes a motor, drive cable, and transmission mechanism (worm gear or pinion gear with belt) that automatically controls the rotation of the upper seal ring. This substitution eliminates the need for manual manipulation of the seal during hand exchanges, ensuring consistent pressure maintenance while reducing operational complexity for the surgeon.
2Ease of operation
If the seal is kept closed to maintain abdominal pressure, then pressure is maintained, but hand access to the abdominal cavity is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The motor-driven system enables dynamic transitions between sealed and open states. When hand access is required, the motor rotates the upper seal ring to open the seal, allowing hand insertion. When hand exchange or pressure maintenance is needed, the motor closes the seal. This controlled dynamics resolves the contradiction by providing both access and pressure maintenance at different times as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal operates in periodic cycles: closed state for pressure maintenance, opened state for hand insertion/exchange, then closed again. The motor-driven system facilitates these periodic transitions efficiently, allowing brief periods of openness for necessary hand operations while spending most time in the closed state to maintain abdominal pressure.
3Reliability
If a motor-driven system is added to control the seal, then abdominal pressure is maintained during hand exchanges, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a motor-driven drive assembly as an intermediary between the surgeon's control and the seal mechanism. The motor, drive cable, and transmission components act as intermediaries that automatically execute the sealing function. This intermediary system handles the complexity of pressure maintenance, allowing the surgeon to focus on the surgical procedure while the drive assembly manages seal control.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor-driven drive assembly serves multiple functions: it opens the seal for hand insertion, closes the seal for pressure maintenance, and can be controlled through various input mechanisms (manual activation, automated sensors). This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing comprehensive control over the seal state for different surgical scenarios.
4Ease of operation
If the seal opening is enlarged to facilitate hand insertion, then hand access is improved, but abdominal pressure is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The seal diameter is dynamically adjustable through rotation of the upper seal ring. When hand insertion is needed, the seal opens to accommodate the hand. When pressure maintenance is critical, the seal closes to its minimum diameter. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing large opening only when necessary for hand access, while maintaining small closed diameter for pressure retention during hand exchanges and surgical operations.
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 solution ensures controlled access to the abdominal cavity with minimal loss of abdominal pressure, enabling safe and efficient hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures by maintaining a gas-tight seal around the surgeon's wrist or instruments.
Implementation Method 1
the drive assembly includes a worm gear... the worm gear engages teeth formed along the upper seal ring
Implementation Method 2
the drive assembly includes a pinion gear... the pinion gear engages a belt encircling the upper seal ring
Data Source
AI summary
A motor driven seal assembly for permitting hand assisted laparoscopic procedures. The seal assembly includes a seal cap having a seal positioned within a housing, the housing includes a lower seal ring having a track which supports an upper seal ring for rotational motion relative thereto. The seal is supported between the upper seal ring and the lower seal ring for rotation between an open orientation and a closed orientation. A motor-driven drive assembly is associated with the lower seal ring and the upper seal ring for controlling relative to movement thereof.