Surgical Portal Centering Mechanism for Endoscope Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical portal apparatuses lack an effective centering mechanism to maintain endoscopic instruments aligned within seals, which can lead to inefficiencies in sealing and instrument alignment during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical portal apparatus with a centering mechanism featuring a pair of rollers arranged in diametrical opposition, biased towards the radial inward direction by springs, which engage the instrument through grooves to maintain alignment with the longitudinal axis, allowing for secure passage of instruments of varying diameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal member is positioned along the longitudinal opening for receiving surgical objects, then sealing efficiency is improved, but instrument alignment precision deteriorates without a centering mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The centering mechanism acts as an intermediary between the seal member and the surgical instrument. The rollers provide a mediating structure that actively maintains instrument alignment, resolving the contradiction between achieving reliable sealing and maintaining precise instrument alignment through the seal.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rollers are made movable from radial inward position to radial outward position, then adaptability to different instrument sizes is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The centering mechanism employs dynamic rollers that can move between radial inward and outward positions. This dynamic capability allows the same mechanism to adapt to various instrument diameters while maintaining centering function, achieving versatility without requiring multiple fixed-position mechanisms for different instrument sizes.
3Manufacturing precision
If rollers are biased toward radial inward direction, then instrument alignment precision is improved, but force required for instrument passage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring bias provides partial centering force rather than excessive force. The rollers are biased toward the radial inward direction to correspondingly bias the surgical object in general alignment with the longitudinal axis, but the bias is calibrated to provide sufficient alignment without creating excessive resistance to instrument passage.
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 centering mechanism ensures precise alignment and secure sealing of endoscopic instruments within the portal apparatus, enhancing the sealing efficiency and usability of instruments of different sizes.
Implementation Method 1
the rollers being biased toward the radial inward direction to correspondingly bias the surgical object in general alignment with the longitudinal axis
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical portal apparatus is provided. The surgical portal apparatus includes a portal member defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal opening therethrough for receiving a surgical object, a seal member positioned along the longitudinal opening for receiving a surgical object in a sealing manner, and a centering mechanism maintained within the portal member, wherein the centering mechanism including a pair of rollers arranged in general diametrical opposed relation, the rollers movable relative to the longitudinal axis from a radial inward position to a radial outward position to permit passage of the surgical object, the rollers being biased toward the radial inward direction to correspondingly bias the surgical object in general alignment with the longitudinal axis.