Nested Cannula Locking for Smaller Incisions and Lower Tissue Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nested cannula systems lack flexibility, requiring surgeons to use larger cannulas than necessary, leading to increased surgical time and patient recovery time, and impose additional stress on soft tissue due to attached handles and reliance on friction or diametric fit for concentricity.
Innovation Solution
A nested cannula system with interlocking mechanisms allowing each cannula to be used individually or with any other cannula, featuring a separate handle and locking mechanisms that maintain concentricity and prevent rotation, enabling ordered release and reducing the need for intermediate cannulas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional nested cannula systems use attached handles on multiple cannula sizes, then surgeons can access different areas, but additional handles generate additional weight that places additional stress on patient's soft tissue, bone, and joint
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the handle from the cannula system, making it a separate independent component. The handle can be detached and reattached to different cannula sizes as needed, eliminating the need for multiple handles with attached weights. This allows surgeons to access different areas while minimizing the weight burden on patient tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal handle design that can interface with multiple cannula sizes through standardized coupling mechanisms. This single multi-functional handle replaces the need for multiple size-specific handles, reducing overall system weight while maintaining versatility in accessing different surgical areas.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional nested cannula systems rely on friction between adjacently-sized cannulas to retain one cannula with another, then nested structure is maintained, but friction-based retention may disengage and/or allow rotation between cannulas when forces are applied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate locking features such as tabs, grooves, or bayonet-style coupling mechanisms between adjacent cannulas. These intermediary structures provide positive mechanical engagement that prevents disengagement and rotation under applied forces, while maintaining the nested configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric coupling features where the locking mechanism has a specific orientation that prevents rotation. The asymmetric design ensures that cannulas can be inserted in the correct orientation and remain locked in place, preventing unwanted rotation when forces are applied during surgical procedures.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional nested cannula systems rely on diametric fit between cannula sizes for maintaining concentricity, then concentric alignment is achieved, but surgeon must use all intermediate cannulas between two sizes, generating additional weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the concentricity-maintaining function from the continuous nested chain of intermediate cannulas. Instead of requiring all intermediate sizes to be present for alignment, the system uses direct coupling mechanisms or alignment features that allow selective use of cannula sizes while maintaining concentric positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary alignment features such as guide rails, alignment pins, or self-centering mechanisms that maintain concentricity between non-adjacent cannula sizes. These mediators enable direct coupling of selective cannula sizes without requiring the full intermediate sequence, reducing weight while preserving concentric alignment.
4Adaptability or versatility
If surgeons switch out cannulas each time a different size is needed, then different sized cannulas are provided, but this increases surgical procedure time and potential for soft tissue irritation/damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains the nested cannula configuration where smaller cannulas can be inserted within larger ones. This nested arrangement allows surgeons to switch between sizes by simply adding or removing inner cannulas from the same external incision site, eliminating the need to remove and reinsert cannulas and reducing soft tissue manipulation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal cannula system where a single external incision and handle interface can accommodate multiple cannula sizes through standardized coupling mechanisms. This multi-functional design allows size changes without requiring new incisions or extensive reconfiguration, reducing surgical time and tissue trauma.
5Length of moving object
If an incision is made for a large cannula, then large cannulas can be used, but the incision will not be suitable for a small cannula, limiting the surgeon to increasing size only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic cannula system where the effective size can be adjusted by adding or removing nested cannulas. The external incision remains constant, but the internal configuration can be dynamically changed to accommodate different instrument sizes, allowing both upward and downward size adjustments from the same incision site.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses nested cannulas where smaller cannulas can be inserted within larger ones through the same incision. This nested arrangement provides downward size flexibility, allowing surgeons to use smaller instruments through the same incision made for larger cannulas, eliminating the limitation of unidirectional size adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides for an interlocking cannula system that includes a handle and a set of cannulas. The set of cannulas includes a sequence of smaller to larger cannulas constructed such that the smaller cannulas may be nested within larger cannulas. Each cannula in the set of cannulas includes a respective locking mechanism configured such that each cannula may be interlocked with each of the other cannulas in the set. The handle is constructed such that each cannula in the set may interlock with the handle by the respective locking mechanism of the cannula. In some instances, the respective locking mechanisms are constructed to enable an ordered release of the cannulas.