Oscillating Bone Resection Blade for Precise Minimally Invasive Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments for resecting soft tissue or bone in constrained environments, such as minimally-invasive procedures, suffer from poor ergonomics leading to musculoskeletal disorders, reduced accuracy, and risk of nerve damage due to inadequate cutting precision and obstruction of the surgical site, with existing devices often requiring multiple passes and causing tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
A powered cutting system utilizing an oscillating or continuously rotating blade, with a crescentic or cylindrical design, that oscillates without spinning to minimize nerve damage and tissue destruction, featuring a mechanical transmission system for high oscillation rates and a shield to protect non-target tissue, along with ergonomic design and visualization features to enhance precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotating blade is used for tissue resection, then cutting speed is improved, but nerve damage risk increases due to tissue tangling and excessive strain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs ultrasonic vibration at frequencies between 20-100 kHz to achieve tissue resection without continuous rotation. The high-frequency oscillating blade cuts through bone and soft tissue by mechanical vibration rather than rotation, eliminating the tangling problem that causes nerve damage while maintaining efficient cutting speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade performs periodic oscillating motion rather than continuous rotation. This periodic action allows the blade to advance through tissue in controlled cycles, reducing continuous contact time with nerves and minimizing strain accumulation on sensitive structures.
2Device complexity
If manual operation is used for resection instruments, then device complexity is reduced, but resection rate decreases and surgeon fatigue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument incorporates a powered drive mechanism that automatically performs the cutting action. The motor-driven oscillating blade system eliminates the need for manual back-and-forth manipulation, allowing the device to perform resection autonomously while the surgeon simply guides the instrument to the target site.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an electric motor-driven system. The motor provides continuous power to generate high-frequency blade oscillations, substituting the surgeon's manual mechanical effort with an automated electromechanical system that maintains consistent cutting performance.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple instrument passes are used for complete resection, then cutting precision is improved, but surgical time increases and tissue exposure to the blade increases
Solution Approach 1:
The powered oscillating blade system enables continuous cutting action without the need to retract and reposition the instrument repeatedly. The blade maintains continuous contact with the tissue and performs uninterrupted resection along the desired path, eliminating idle time between passes while maintaining precision through controlled oscillation.
4Manufacturing precision
If the cutting tool is positioned close to the tissue for precision, then cutting accuracy is improved, but surgeon's view of the tissue is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the instrument with the cutting blade positioned in a different spatial dimension relative to the shaft. The oscillating blade extends laterally from the longitudinal axis of the instrument shaft, allowing the cutting action to occur in a plane perpendicular to the instrument's length, thereby clearing the visual path along the instrument's axis while maintaining cutting precision at the tip.
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 reduces musculoskeletal strain, improves cutting accuracy, minimizes nerve damage, and allows for efficient tissue removal without pulverization, while providing clear visualization of the cutting area, thus enhancing the safety and effectiveness of surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
utilize powered cutting systems with an oscillating or continuously rotating blade, or an axially oscillating blade
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of devices for converting continuous rotational motion into oscillating motion are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an oscillation device can include an input shaft that rotates about a first axis, a portion of the input shaft defining an eccentric section that defines a second central axis offset from the first axis, a connector rotatably coupled around the eccentric section, an oscillating shaft offset from the input shaft that rotates about a third axis, and a pin coupled to the oscillating shaft and extending towards the connector. The connector includes a sleeve slidably receiving an end of the pin, and continuous rotation of the input shaft about the first axis causes an eccentric movement of the connector, and the eccentric movement of the connector oscillates the sleeve along the pin and oscillates the pin with respect to the oscillating shaft, thereby oscillating the oscillating shaft about the third axis.