Pivotable End Effector for Tendon Harvesting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing graft harvesting techniques for ligament reconstruction, such as ACL reconstruction, face challenges in accurately identifying and harvesting tendons due to anatomical complexities, leading to potential premature amputation and inadequate graft length.

Innovation Solution

A surgical instrument with a pivotally mounted end effector that can be rotated to position either end as a leading or trailing end, allowing for precise harvesting of both ends of a tendon through a posterior incision, reducing the risk of premature amputation and facilitating easier identification of tendons like the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a traditional anterior incision is made for graft harvesting, then the incision can be made at a standard location, but the tendons cannot be easily identified and accessory bands complicate the harvesting process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of making incisionVSAvoiddifficulty of identifying tendons

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional anterior incision approach by making a posterior incision instead. This inversion allows the surgeon to access the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons from behind, where they are more easily identified and separated from accessory bands, thereby resolving the identification difficulty while maintaining incision simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If accessory bands are present during tendon harvesting, then they arise from the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons, but they divert the harvesting instrument causing premature amputation of the tendon

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability of harvesting instrumentVSAvoidreliability of graft length

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The harvesting instrument incorporates a pivotable end effector that can dynamically adjust its orientation and direction of travel. This dynamic capability allows the instrument to navigate around accessory bands and continue harvesting the main tendon without premature amputation, ensuring reliable graft length while adapting to anatomical variations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The instrument is designed with a tissue seating passage that preliminarily guides and constrains the tendon before cutting occurs. This preliminary action ensures the tendon remains properly positioned and prevents diversion by accessory bands, allowing for accurate identification and harvesting of the full-length tendon

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If the end effector is fixed in position on the shaft, then the structure is simple, but the instrument cannot selectively position different ends of the tendon as leading or trailing ends

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplexity of end effector mountingVSAvoidversatility of harvesting configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The end effector is pivotally mounted on the elongate shaft, allowing it to rotate and change orientation dynamically. This pivotable connection enables the instrument to selectively position either end of the tendon as the leading or trailing end during harvesting, providing versatility while maintaining relatively simple mechanical structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pivotable end effector design allows a single instrument to perform multiple harvesting configurations. The same instrument can harvest tendons with different orientations and accommodate various anatomical presentations, making it a universal tool that handles both leading and trailing end scenarios without requiring separate specialized instruments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12070199B2Surgical instrument for graft harvesting

Publication Date: 2024.08.27 MEDOS INT SARL

AI summary

Instruments and methods for harvesting a tissue structure such that a tendon graft are provided. In general, the surgical instrument includes an elongate shaft and an end effector pivotally coupled to a distal end thereof. The end effector defines a tissue seating passage configured to seat therethrough a portion of the tendon when the end effector is in use. The end effector is configured to be manipulated such that either its first or second end is positioned as a leading end. A method for using the end effector to harvest a tendon includes using the end effector to strip and cut the tendon at one end thereof when the first end of the end effector is a leading end, manipulating the end effector such that its second end becomes the leading end, and using the end effector to strip and cut the tendon at another, opposite end thereof.