Prostate Morcellator with Retractable Grasping Nails
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current morcellator devices are inadequate for prostate tissue morcellation due to limited working space and access within the body, risk of bladder perforation from suction, and inability to securely grasp tissue, leading to prolonged surgical procedures and potential morbidity.
Innovation Solution
A prostate grasping morcellator device with retractable grasping nails controlled by a button, connected to wires, which allows for secure tissue trapping and morcellation without forceful suction, featuring a motor-driven internal sheath with blades for continuous tissue cutting and a suction source for tissue collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If strong negative pressure suction is used to hold prostate tissue at the morcellator tip, then tissue is held securely, but there is risk of sucking the bladder wall causing bleeding and perforation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a grasping mechanism with movable fingers as an intermediary between the suction source and the tissue. The fingers physically grasp and hold the tissue at the tip of the morcellator, mediating the tissue holding function and preventing direct suction contact with the bladder wall. This intermediary grasping structure eliminates the harmful effect of strong negative pressure on surrounding tissues while maintaining secure tissue holding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the tissue holding function from the suction mechanism by introducing a separate grasping mechanism with movable fingers. The suction source is taken out from direct tissue contact and used only for removing morcellated pieces, while the grasping fingers independently perform the tissue holding function. This separation eliminates the harmful coupling between suction and tissue holding.
2Length of moving object
If small diameter morcellator is used to access prostate through urethra, then access is enabled, but working space is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs nested doll principle by placing the morcellation blades and grasping mechanism inside a compact cylindrical body that can pass through the urethra. The internal sheath with blades is nested within the external sheath, and the grasping fingers are folded within the body structure. This nested arrangement enables the morcellator to have a small external diameter for urethral access while containing larger functional components for effective morcellation working space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamics principle by making the grasping fingers movable and the internal sheath rotatable. The fingers can extend and retract from the tip, and the internal sheath can rotate to engage/disengage the blades. This dynamic configuration allows the device to maintain a compact form for access while expanding functional capability during operation.
3Reliability
If prostate tissue is held by strong negative pressure suction, then tissue is secured, but procedural time increases when tissue drops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a grasping mechanism with movable fingers as an intermediary to physically hold the tissue. This mechanical grasping provides continuous and reliable tissue securing without the intermittent failures experienced with suction alone. The fingers maintain constant contact and control over the tissue throughout the morcellation process, eliminating the need for repeated adjustments and bladder distension.
4Productivity
If conventional suction mechanism is used, then tissue can be removed, but bladder wall may be sucked causing perforation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the grasping fingers as an intermediary that holds the tissue securely at the tip. This mechanical grasping prevents the suction from directly contacting and potentially damaging the bladder wall. The suction source continues to function for removing morcellated pieces, but the grasping mechanism mediates the interaction between the device and the target tissue, eliminating the harmful effect while preserving the useful function.
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
Enables safe and efficient morcellation of prostate tissue by securely grasping and cutting without suction-induced bladder perforation risks, reducing procedural time and improving surgical efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a motor on a first end of the handpiece portion and connected to a power supply, the motor rotating an internal sheath in an external sheath
Implementation Method 2
a suction source configured to collect morcellated tissue pieces
Data Source
AI summary
A prostate grasping morcellator device and a method of morcellating prostate tissue are described. The prostate grasping morcellator device includes a handpiece portion including a motor which rotates an internal sheath in an external sheath of a rod. The rod is connected to a second end of the handpiece portion. The prostate grasping morcellator device includes one or more retractable grasping nails connected to an end of the rod. The end is distal to the second end of the handpiece portion. The prostate grasping morcellator device includes a control button to control movement of the retractable grasping nails. The control button is mounted adjacent to the second end of the handpiece portion. The prostate grasping morcellator device includes one or more blades, rotated by the motor to morcellate tissue.