Surgical Retractor Ergonomic Handle Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical retractors often suffer from mishandling during procedures, leading to incomplete steps and unnecessary trauma to surgical sites due to inadequate ergonomic designs, which fail to provide sufficient user engagement and control.

Innovation Solution

A surgical retractor with ergonomic handle design featuring blade portions on opposite ends and enlarged, concave surfaces between them, facilitating user engagement and reducing mishandling by providing a comfortable and secure grip.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional retractor design is used, then the device structure is simple, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to inadequate ergonomic design

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser engagement and controlVSAvoidhandle design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing enlarged lateral width and concave surfaces specifically at the handle portions where user contact occurs, while maintaining a simpler overall structure. This localized ergonomic enhancement improves grip and control without requiring complete redesign of the entire device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements curvature through concave surfaces on the handle portions that conform to the natural shape of user fingers and手掌. These curved surfaces provide better contact area and comfort, directly addressing the ease of operation requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If a conventional retractor design is used, then the device is easy to manufacture, but reliability deteriorates due to mishandling during procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedural completion and trauma preventionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The ergonomic features are concentrated in specific handle zones rather than distributed throughout the entire device. This localized approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while improving reliability through better user control and reduced mishandling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If an ergonomic handle design is added, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrip and manipulationVSAvoidoverall structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enhances only the specific portions of the device that require user interaction (handle areas with enlarged lateral width and concave surfaces), while leaving other portions relatively simple. This selective enhancement improves ease of operation without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11786231B2Surgical retractor

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 SECTSEE SURGICAL RETRACTORS LLC

AI summary

Surgical retractors are disclosed herein. More particularly but not exclusively, in one form, a surgical retractor includes blade portions positioned on opposite ends thereof. The retractor also includes one or more portions positioned between the blade portions which provide an ergonomic handle design configured to facilitate engagement thereof by a user. By way of non-limiting example, in one form the ergonomic design includes a pair of concave surfaces spaced apart and positioned on opposite sides of the body of the retractor from one another. Other features and aspects relating to this and other surgical retractors are disclosed herein.