Retractable Multi-Tine Cutting Device for Spinal Decompression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical methods for treating spinal stenosis, particularly lumbar spinal stenosis caused by hypertrophied ligamentum flavum, often require open surgery, leading to significant pain, spinal instability, and lengthy recovery times, while minimally invasive techniques are limited by the need for general anesthesia and risk of nerve damage.

Innovation Solution

A surgical system featuring a retractable cutting device with a ballpoint pen-like mechanism, including an anchor hook and orbiting hook, allows for precise dissection and evacuation of hypertrophied ligamentum flavum through a minimally invasive approach, reducing tissue damage and preserving stabilizing muscles and ligaments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If open surgery is performed to remove hypertrophied ligamentum flavum, then complete decompression of the spinal canal is achieved, but significant pain, spinal instability, and lengthy recovery times occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecompression effectivenessVSAvoidpost-operative pain and spinal instability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting device is divided into multiple cutting elements (first cutting element on inner tube, second cutting element on shaft) that can independently cut the ligamentum flavum at different locations. This segmented approach allows complete decompression through multiple small incisions rather than one large open incision, reducing tissue damage and preserving stabilizing structures while achieving reliable decompression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts only the necessary portion of the ligamentum flavum through percutaneous incisions using a minimally invasive cutting device, rather than performing a complete open laminectomy. The cutting elements remove only the hypertrophied portions of the ligamentum flavum through small skin incisions, preserving the surrounding muscles and ligaments, thereby reducing post-operative pain and spinal instability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Loss of time

If minimally invasive techniques are used to treat spinal stenosis, then tissue damage and recovery time are reduced, but the risk of nerve damage and need for general anesthesia increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecovery timeVSAvoidnerve damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting device uses an intermediary approach by inserting cutting elements through percutaneous incisions and guiding them to the ligamentum flavum using fluoroscopic guidance. This intermediary method allows minimally invasive access to the spinal canal while maintaining visual control through fluoroscopy, reducing the risk of nerve damage compared to blind percutaneous techniques while avoiding the need for general anesthesia.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical system of open surgical exposure with a percutaneous mechanical cutting system guided by fluoroscopy. The cutting elements are inserted through small incisions and advanced to the target location using fluoroscopic guidance, substituting the need for general anesthesia and open surgical exposure while maintaining precise control to avoid nerve damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If traditional open laminectomy is performed, then access to the spinal canal is achieved, but damage to paraspinal muscles and ligaments occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical accessVSAvoidmuscle and ligament damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the necessary ligamentum flavum tissue through percutaneous incisions using a minimally invasive cutting device, rather than performing a complete open laminectomy. The cutting elements remove only the hypertrophied portions of the ligamentum flavum through small skin incisions, preserving the surrounding muscles and ligaments, thereby reducing post-operative pain and spinal instability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10639057B2Multi-tine cutting device

Publication Date: 2020.05.05 MEDTRONIC EUROPE SÀRL

AI summary

A cutting device is provided that includes an outer tube. The outer tube includes an inner surface defining a passageway. An inner tube is movably disposed in the passageway such that a distal end of the inner tube extends beyond a distal end of the outer tube. The distal end of the inner tube includes a first cutting element. An inner surface of the inner tube defines a lumen. A shaft is slidably disposed in the lumen. The shaft has a distal end including a second cutting element. A deployment mechanism is coupled to a proximal end of the outer tube. The deployment mechanism includes a body, a push button disposed within the body and a collar disposed about the body. The shaft is fixed relative to the collar and the inner tube is fixed relative to the push button. Systems and methods are disclosed.