Retractable Backflush Soft Tip for Valved Cannula Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inserting a backflush instrument with a soft tip into a valved cannula can be challenging and may cause damage, such as bending or shearing off, due to the soft tip's interaction with the cannula valve.
Innovation Solution
A retractable backflush instrument design featuring a slidable valve mechanism that allows the soft tip to be retracted prior to insertion, preventing bending or shearing during insertion into a valved cannula.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a soft tip is used on the backflush instrument to ensure tissue safety, then tissue damage is prevented, but the soft tip bends and gets stuck during insertion into the cannula
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic tip system where the soft tip can be retracted into and extended from the outer tube. During insertion, the tip is retracted to a rigid configuration that passes easily through the cannula valve, then extended to a soft configuration for safe tissue contact during surgery. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between tissue safety and insertion ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The backflush instrument is segmented into multiple components: an outer tube, an inner tube housing the soft tip, and a retraction mechanism. This segmentation allows the soft tip to be isolated and independently controlled, enabling it to be retracted during insertion and extended during tissue interaction, thus resolving the contradiction between softness for tissue safety and rigidity for easy insertion.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a soft tip is used on the backflush instrument to ensure tissue safety, then tissue damage is prevented, but the soft tip may shear off the instrument due to excessive bending
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic retraction mechanism allows the soft tip to be pulled back into the protective outer tube when not in use or during insertion, preventing excessive bending forces that would cause shearing. The tip is only extended when needed for tissue contact, maintaining both tissue safety and instrument integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer tube serves as a protective sheath that cushions and supports the soft tip during insertion and storage. By providing this protective environment beforehand, the system prevents the soft tip from experiencing excessive bending forces that would lead to shearing, while still allowing the tip to be soft when extended for tissue contact.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the soft tip is extended beyond the outer tube for tissue contact, then tissue safety is improved, but the insertion process becomes more difficult and damaging
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the configuration of the soft tip based on the operational phase: retracted during insertion to simplify the process, and extended during tissue interaction to ensure safety. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by having the tip in different states at different times rather than being fixed in one configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The soft tip is preliminarily retracted into the outer tube before insertion begins, creating a streamlined profile that simplifies the insertion process. After successful insertion, the tip is then extended for its intended tissue contact function. This preliminary retraction action resolves the contradiction by preparing the instrument in the optimal configuration for each phase of use.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain embodiments provide an apparatus comprising a hand-piece, an outer tube coupled to the hand-piece, an inner tube housed within the outer tube and having a distal end coupled to a soft tip and a proximal end coupled to an adapter, a proximal end of the adapter coupled to a distal end of a valve, the valve slidably coupled to the hand-piece, and a core slidably coupled to the hand-piece and having a distal end coupled to a proximal end of the valve. To retract the soft tip, the valve is retracted, causing the adapter, the valve, and the core to slidably retract in a proximal direction in relation to the hand-piece, and to extend the soft tip, the valve is protracted, causing the adapter, the valve, and the core to slidably protract in a distal direction in relation to the hand-piece.