Obturator Tip Surface Channel for Immediate Insufflation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive surgical procedures face challenges in efficiently creating a pathway for insufflation fluids without causing injury to underlying anatomical structures, as existing obturators often require additional sealing mechanisms and may not allow immediate introduction of insufflation fluids upon penetration, increasing the risk of tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
A surgical access apparatus featuring an obturator with a tip member having an outer surface channel for insufflation fluids, allowing immediate fluid introduction into the body cavity upon penetration, eliminating the need for internal seals and reducing the risk of tissue injury by positioning the channel's distal end at or near the tip, thus avoiding the use of additional sealing structures and enhancing patient safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an additional source of insufflation fluid coupled with the obturator is used, then insufflation can be performed during obturator insertion, but the device complexity increases due to additional sealing members and fluid pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the insufflation function from the internal obturator structure and relocates it to the outer surface of the tip member. By removing the need for internal fluid pathways and sealing members, the design simplifies the device while maintaining the capability to insufflate during insertion. The channel on the outer surface allows fluid delivery without requiring complex internal sealing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a conventional internal fluid pathway design to an external surface channel design. By moving the insufflation channel from the interior to the outer surface of the tip member, the design eliminates the need for internal sealing structures while maintaining fluid delivery capability, thus reducing device complexity.
2Loss of time
If the distal end of the channel is positioned at or near the distal tip of the obturator, then immediate insufflation upon penetration is achieved, but the risk of tissue injury increases if not properly controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the distal end of the channel at or near the distal tip of the obturator, preparing the fluid delivery system in advance for immediate operation. This preliminary positioning ensures that as soon as the tip penetrates the tissue, insufflation can begin immediately without delay, while the controlled channel design manages the fluid delivery to minimize tissue injury risk.
3Reliability
If sealing members are incorporated to inhibit proximal migration of insufflation fluids, then fluid containment is improved, but the device complexity and potential failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes sealing members from the design by relocating the insufflation channel to the outer surface of the tip member. This extraction of the sealing function eliminates potential failure points and simplifies the device while maintaining fluid containment through the external channel configuration that naturally prevents proximal migration.
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 enables safer and more efficient creation of a working space in minimally invasive procedures by allowing immediate insufflation fluid introduction, reducing the risk of tissue damage and eliminating the need for additional sealing mechanisms, thereby improving patient safety and procedural efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the outer surface defining a channel for insufflation fluid
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A surgical access apparatus including a cannula defining an internal lumen, the cannula having a connection for receiving insufflation fluid. The apparatus also includes an obturator assembly, the obturator assembly configured to be inserted through a cannula so as to define an interstitial space between the cannula and the obturator assembly. The interstitial space is in fluid communication with the cannula connection so as to convey the insufflation fluid. The obturator assembly includes an obturator shaft having a hollow interior and a tip member at a distal end of the obturator shaft. The tip member is configured to penetrate and/or dissect through tissue. The tip member has an outer surface that defines a channel, the channel being in fluid communication with the interstitial space to as to convey the insufflation fluid from a proximal end of the tip member to a distal end of the tip member.