One-Step Vitrector with Pneumatic Guillotine Cutter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional posterior vitrectomy procedures require multiple incisions and are time-consuming, often necessitating additional surgical time and morbidity, especially when addressing floaters caused by vitreous aging that lodge in the anterior and mid vitreous spaces.

Innovation Solution

A one-step vitrector with a pneumatically driven guillotine cutter and aspiration line, featuring a sharply pointed needle tip for piercing the pars plana and sclera, allows for the removal of floaters through a single opening, utilizing pneumatic air for cutting and suction for aspiration, reducing the need for multiple incisions and sutures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional three-port procedure is used for posterior vitrectomy, then complete removal of vitreous debris can be achieved, but the surgical time and patient morbidity increase due to multiple incisions and sutures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of vitreous debris removalVSAvoidsurgical time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions (cutting, aspiration, and sclerotomy) into a single integrated vitrector device with a sharp needle tip. This merging of functions allows the surgeon to perform all necessary vitrectomy steps through one incision, eliminating the need for multiple separate incisions and sutures required by conventional three-port procedures, thereby reducing surgical time while maintaining complete debris removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The vitrector device is designed as a multi-functional instrument that can pierce the sclera, cut vitreous debris, and aspirate removed material all through a single device. This universal design allows one instrument to perform multiple tasks that traditionally required separate instruments and incisions, reducing both surgical time and patient morbidity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a conventional three-port procedure is used for posterior vitrectomy, then complete removal of vitreous debris can be achieved, but the device complexity and surgical steps increase due to multiple ports and instrumentation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of vitreous debris removalVSAvoidnumber of incisions and instrumentation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the sclerotomy needle, cutting blade, and aspiration cannula into a single integrated vitrector device. This consolidation reduces the number of separate instruments and incisions from three ports to one, simplifying the overall procedural complexity while maintaining the ability to completely remove vitreous debris

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The vitrector device is segmented into functional components (sharp needle tip for sclerotomy, guillotine cutter for cutting, aspiration line for removal) that work together through a single integrated structure. This segmentation within unity allows each function to be optimized while maintaining overall simplicity and reducing the number of external instruments needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If multiple incisions are made for conventional vitrectomy, then access to vitreous cavity is achieved, but patient discomfort and surgical morbidity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to vitreous cavityVSAvoidpatient discomfort and morbidity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By merging all necessary functions into a single incision approach, the patent minimizes the number of times the sclera is penetrated and reduces the total length of incisions required. This single-access methodology significantly reduces patient discomfort and surgical morbidity compared to conventional multi-incision approaches, while still providing complete access to the vitreous cavity for debris removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This approach simplifies and shortens the vitrectomy procedure, minimizing patient discomfort and surgical time by enabling efficient removal of floaters during cataract surgery without the need for additional incisions or sutures, thereby improving patient safety and visual outcomes.

Implementation Method 1

a pneumatically driven guillotine cutter... utilizing pneumatic air for cutting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

aspiration line... utilizing pneumatic air for cutting and suction for aspiration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS20240268998A1Vitrector and method for performing a one-step posterior vitrectomy using the same

Publication Date: 2024.08.15 VISTA OPHTHALMICS LLC

AI summary

A vitrector for removing material from an eye includes a hand piece, a shaft coupled at a first end to a first end of the hand piece, the shaft having a sharp second end opposite the first end of the shaft, and a cutting device positioned within the shaft and configured for removing the material from the eye. The sharp second end of the shaft is configured for piercing a pars plana of the eye and a sclera of the eye. A method for removing material from an eye includes forming a single opening through a pars plana of the eye and a sclera of the eye using a sharp point of a shaft of a vitrector, cutting the material using a cutting device incorporated within the shaft, and removing the material from the eye using the vitrector.