Retractable Blade Surgical Knife for Ear Surgery

Solution Overview

Problem

Current otologic surgical procedures face challenges due to the difficulty in accessing the ear canal and middle ear structures, requiring multiple instruments that increase trauma risk, procedural time, and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A surgical knife with both a round and straight blade, allowing for various incisions to be made with a single instrument, reducing the need for multiple instruments and facilitating easier access to the middle ear space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate surgical instruments are used for different incisions, then various incision types can be made, but the number of instruments increases procedural time and trauma risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveincision capabilityVSAvoidprocedural time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple blade types (round blade and straight blade) into a single surgical knife instrument. The round blade is fixedly coupled to the distal end of the shaft, while the straight blade is coupled to a movable rod that can extend and retract. This merging allows the surgeon to perform both round and straight incisions without exchanging instruments, directly reducing procedural time while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical knife is designed as a universal instrument capable of performing multiple functions - making both round incisions with the fixed round blade and straight incisions with the extendable straight blade. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple specialized instruments, reducing the time required to switch between different incision types during the procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate surgical instruments are used for different incisions, then various incision types can be made, but the number of instruments increases trauma risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveincision capabilityVSAvoidtrauma risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple blade types (round blade and straight blade) into a single surgical knife instrument. The round blade is fixedly coupled to the distal end of the shaft, while the straight blade is coupled to a movable rod that can extend and retract. This merging allows the surgeon to perform both round and straight incisions without exchanging instruments, directly reducing procedural time while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical knife is designed as a universal instrument capable of performing multiple functions - making both round incisions with the fixed round blade and straight incisions with the extendable straight blade. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple specialized instruments, reducing the time required to switch between different incision types during the procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate surgical instruments are used for different incisions, then various incision types can be made, but the number of instruments increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveincision capabilityVSAvoidinstrument count

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple blade types (round blade and straight blade) into a single surgical knife instrument. The round blade is fixedly coupled to the distal end of the shaft, while the straight blade is coupled to a movable rod that can extend and retract. This merging allows the surgeon to perform both round and straight incisions without exchanging instruments, directly reducing procedural time while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The straight blade is nested within the shaft when retracted, and can be extended when needed. The movable rod containing the straight blade is disposed within the shaft, allowing the straight blade to be stored inside the instrument body when not in use. This nesting arrangement consolidates multiple functional elements into a single compact instrument, reducing the overall number of separate instruments required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS20240423842A1Surgical knife with retractable blade

Publication Date: 2024.12.26 ALCON INC

AI summary

A surgical knife for ear surgery includes a handle comprising a control mechanism and a shaft coupled to and extending distally from the distal end of the handle. A rod disposed within the shaft comprising a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, wherein the proximal end of the rod is coupled to the control mechanism and wherein the rod is configured to translate along a longitudinal axis of the shaft upon actuation of the control mechanism. The surgical knife further includes a straight knife coupled to the distal end of the rod, wherein translation of the rod causes the straight knife to extend or retract out of the distal end of the shaft. The surgical knife further includes a round knife attached to the distal end of the shaft.