Retractor Member Attachment for Soft Tissue Creep Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
During surgical procedures, soft tissue can move or 'creep' into the distal opening of the access tube, impeding visualization of the treatment site, including the exiting nerve, due to inadequate securing mechanisms for retractor members.
Innovation Solution
The retractor member is designed with an attachment device that allows secure attachment to the access member, enabling translation and rotation relative to the access member while maintaining positioning, using compliant wings or magnetic materials for engagement, and vacuum ports for stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If retractor members are inserted through the working channel to engage and retract soft tissue, then visualization of the treatment site is improved, but soft tissue may move or creep into the distal opening of the access tube impeding visualization
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device is configured to secure the retractor member to the access tube before soft tissue creeping occurs. The wings are positioned to engage the inner surface of the access tube in advance, creating a stable platform that prevents tissue migration into the distal opening during the surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment device with compliant wings acts as an intermediary between the retractor member and the access tube. The wings provide a securing mechanism that firmly attaches the retractor to the access tube, preventing relative movement that would allow soft tissue to creep into the distal opening while maintaining stable retraction for visualization.
2Reliability
If the retractor member is secured to the access member, then soft tissue retraction is maintained, but the retractor member should still allow translation and repositioning as needed
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device incorporates compliant wings that can flex and deform elastically. This dynamic characteristic allows the wings to adapt to the inner surface of the access tube while maintaining secure attachment. The compliance enables the retractor to be repositioned by deforming the wings, providing both stability during use and adaptability for repositioning as needed during the surgical procedure.
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 solution effectively maintains soft tissue retraction, providing enhanced visualization of the treatment site by preventing tissue movement and allowing adjustable repositioning of the retractor member as needed.
Implementation Method 1
the pair of wings are compliant and are configured to be flexed inward toward each other from a neutral configuration to a flexed configuration by the inner surface of the access member when the pair of wings are disposed in the channel, such that a return force of the pair of wings causes the pair of wings to engage the inner surface of the access member so as to attach the body to the portion of the access member
Implementation Method 2
the locking member may be compliant and configured to be flexed inward toward a central axis of the access member when the locking member is disposed in the channel, such that a return force of the locking member causes the locking member to engage the inner surface of the access member so as to attach the body to the portion of the access member
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1D
Figure 2A~2E
AI summary
A retractor member is configured for insertion through a channel of an access member and for moving soft tissue at a treatment site that is accessible through the channel. The retractor includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end and spaced from each other along a longitudinal direction. The distal end defines a retractor blade and the body defines a first surface and a second surface opposite each other along a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The retractor includes an attachment device configured to selectively attach the body to a portion of the access member such that the body is extendable through the working channel while the body is attached to the portion of the access member.