Removable Cannula Base for Stable Surgical Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive surgical techniques face challenges such as the 'chopstick effect' due to instrument interference, tissue collapse around cannulas, and instability of cannulas during procedures, making it difficult to access and maintain a surgical site effectively.
Innovation Solution
A surgical access device featuring a cannula with a removable and replaceable design, coupled with a retractor and cannula base that forms a fluid-tight configuration, allowing for easy insertion and removal of instruments and cannulas, and providing stability against tissue collapse and insufflation forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple instruments are introduced through a single incision using a cannula, then the number of incisions is reduced, but tissue collapse around the cannula channels restricts independent motion of the instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula is divided into multiple separate sealing channels, each capable of independently receiving and sealing around an instrument. This segmentation allows instruments to move independently within their respective channels while maintaining fluid-tight seals, preventing tissue collapse from restricting instrument motion.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible seals are positioned within each sealing channel to conform to the instrument inserted therein. These flexible seals prevent tissue collapse by maintaining the structural integrity of each channel while allowing independent instrument movement, thus resolving the contradiction between tissue stability and instrument independence.
2Reliability
If the cannula is sutured in place to provide stability, then retention is improved, but removing or replacing the cannula during the procedure becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula assembly is segmented into a reusable outer cannula structure and replaceable inner components. The outer cannula can be sutured in place for stable retention, while inner components such as seals or instrument channels can be removed and replaced without removing the entire cannula assembly, facilitating easy component replacement during procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula design incorporates dynamic features that allow it to transition from a fixed, sutured state during insertion to a more flexible, replaceable state during the procedure. This enables the cannula to provide stable retention when needed while allowing easy removal or replacement of components when required.
3Strength
If the cannula is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then stability against insufflation forces is improved, but flexibility for navigating tissue is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the cannula are assigned different mechanical properties - the proximal portion near the incision site is made rigid to resist insufflation forces and maintain structural integrity, while the distal portion extending into the body cavity is made more flexible to navigate tissue contours. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between strength and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula is constructed from composite materials or multi-layer structures that combine rigid and flexible properties within a single component. This allows the cannula to maintain structural integrity against insufflation forces while simultaneously possessing the flexibility needed to navigate through tissue during insertion and positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices are provided to improve access to a surgical site during surgical procedures. In one exemplary embodiment a surgical access device is provided having a cannula, a cannula base, and a retractor. The cannula base is configured to couple both to the retractor and the cannula to provide access to a surgical site. The cannula can be removably and replaceably coupled to the cannula base. Optionally, the cannula base can be removably and replaceably coupled to the retractor. As desired, the cannula can be decoupled from the cannula base, which can allow for an object to be removed from the surgical site and/or for the cannula, or another cannula to be attached to the cannula base that remains in place to maintain access to the surgical site. Exemplary methods for accessing a surgical site are also provided.