Multi-Axis Surgical Retractor for Minimally Invasive Aperture Expansion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical retractors are limited by the size of the incision, requiring larger incisions for larger apertures, which increases healing time and patient discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A retractor system with a set of blades and actuators that allow for the creation of a larger aperture using a smaller incision, achieved through mechanisms such as translation, rotation, and pivoting of the blades along multiple axes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a traditional retractor with scissor-like arms is used, then the blades can be manipulated to spread tissue, but the aperture size is limited by the incision size requiring larger incisions for larger apertures
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor blades are nested within each other in a collapsed configuration, allowing them to be inserted through a small incision. Once inside the body cavity, the blades can be deployed to create a large aperture. This nesting principle enables the device to pass through a small opening while providing a large working aperture inside the body.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractor system transitions from a one-dimensional linear insertion path to a three-dimensional deployed configuration. The blades can translate along the longitudinal axis, rotate about longitudinal axes, and pivot about transverse axes, enabling the creation of a large aperture through a small incision by utilizing multiple spatial dimensions.
2Area of stationary object
If larger incisions are made to accommodate larger aperture retractors, then larger apertures can be created, but healing time increases and patient discomfort increases
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting the blades within each other during insertion, the device allows creation of large apertures through small incisions, thereby reducing healing time and patient discomfort while still providing adequate surgical access.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a retractor with multiple degrees of freedom is used, then aperture size and positioning are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor incorporates multiple degrees of freedom including translation along the longitudinal axis, rotation about longitudinal axes, and pivoting about transverse axes. This multi-dimensional movement capability allows the blades to be precisely positioned and oriented within the body cavity to create apertures of various sizes and shapes while maintaining manageable device complexity through systematic mechanical design.
Data Source
AI summary
A retractor for use in surgical operations comprises a pair of blade assemblies. In operation, the blade assemblies are initially in a closed position to assume a low profile, inserted into a relatively small incision, and stretched apart from each other, thereby stretching the skin about the incision to form an aperture longer than the incision. The retractor is adapted to rotate a first blade about a first axis and a second blade about a second axis. The retractor is adapted to move the pair of blade assemblies apart along a third axis. The retractor is adapted to pivot the first blade about a fourth axis and the second blade about a fifth axis. In some embodiments, a method of performing an operation, e.g. a spinal operation, on a patient using the disclosed retractor is provided.