Retractable Electrosurgical Needle Uterine Manipulator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current uterine manipulators face challenges in total laparoscopic hysterectomy procedures due to limited visibility and anatomical manipulation difficulties, particularly in separating the uterus and cervix from the vagina, leading to increased surgical complexity and risks of injury.
Innovation Solution
A combination uterine manipulator with a retractable monopolar electrosurgical needle that allows for improved surgical control and simultaneous colpotomy during total laparoscopic hysterectomy, featuring a vaginal cervical retractor elevator with inner and outer cups and a hollow shaft, enabling electrosurgical separation of the uterus and cervix from the vagina.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional uterine manipulator is used for total laparoscopic hysterectomy, then the uterus can be manipulated for visibility, but the separation of uterus and cervix from the vagina becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a uterine manipulator with an integrated electrosurgical needle into a single device. The manipulator shaft includes a lumen that receives the electrosurgical needle, allowing both uterine manipulation and electrosurgical cutting/separation functions to be performed with one instrument rather than requiring separate tools for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical device serves multiple functions: it provides uterine manipulation for visibility and positioning, and simultaneously performs electrosurgical cutting and separation of tissues. The electrosurgical needle can be advanced through the manipulator shaft to perform colpotomy and separation of the uterus and cervix from the vagina, eliminating the need for multiple specialized instruments.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate instruments are used for manipulation and cutting, then each function can be performed with specialized tools, but the surgical complexity and number of instruments increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the uterine manipulator and electrosurgical cutting instrument into a single integrated device. The manipulator shaft with its lumen receiving the electrosurgical needle creates a unified instrument that combines manipulation and cutting functions, reducing the total number of instruments from multiple separate tools to one combined device.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device performs multiple surgical functions including uterine manipulation, positioning, and electrosurgical cutting/separation. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for multiple specialized instruments while maintaining the capability to perform each function effectively within a single device architecture.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional separation techniques are used, then standard procedures can be followed, but the risk of injury to surrounding structures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrosurgical needle is advanced through the manipulator shaft to perform preliminary cutting and separation of the vaginal tissue from the cervix and uterus before final disconnection. This preliminary electrosurgical separation creates a controlled path and reduces the risk of inadvertent injury to surrounding structures such as the bladder, ureters, and blood vessels during the separation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical dissection and separation techniques with electrosurgical cutting. The electrosurgical needle uses electrical energy to cut and coagulate tissues simultaneously, providing more precise control and reduced risk of mechanical injury to surrounding anatomical structures compared to conventional forceful separation methods.
4Productivity
If electrosurgical needle is integrated into manipulator, then simultaneous manipulation and cutting is enabled, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The electrosurgical needle is nested within the lumen of the manipulator shaft. This nesting arrangement allows the needle to be stored and advanced through the manipulator in a compact configuration, enabling simultaneous manipulation and cutting functions while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure that can be easily inserted and manipulated in the surgical field.
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
The device reduces surgical time, minimizes blood loss and anesthesia time, and enhances patient safety by providing improved control over the surgical field and reducing the need for multiple instruments, while maintaining pneumoperitoneum.
Implementation Method 1
a retractable monopolar electrosurgical needle that allows for improved surgical control and simultaneous colpotomy
Data Source
AI summary
A vaginal cervical retractor used to maneuver and visualize the uterus during various medical examinations and procedures would include an inner tube provided with a movable assembly of plastic cups (cervical cup and vaginal cup) designed to be inserted into the uterine cavity and a retractable electrosurgical needle. A cervical cup is molded to a hollow outer shaft to form the movable cup assembly. This hollow shaft is provided through which the inner tube can be inserted. By utilizing a vaginal cervical retractor elevator provided with an inner rigid tubing, freely sliding vaginal cup and cervical cup designed to move on the inner tubing, attached to a hollow, plastic outer shaft into which the inner tubing can be inserted, and a retractable, flexible, electrosurgical needle, the colpotomy procedure can be performed with the improved uterine manipulator.