Surgical Retractor Textured Surface for Tissue Grip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical retractors often puncture or excessively tear surgical gloves due to their teeth, posing a health hazard and compromising glove integrity during tissue manipulation.

Innovation Solution

The development of surgical retractors with deployable or strategically configured retraction elements that minimize the risk of puncturing or tearing gloves by applying a textured surface with anisotropic patterns, which can be hidden or exposed as needed, and are made from materials like stainless steel or disposable plastic for enhanced grip and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional smooth retractor surfaces are used, then manufacturing is simple and cost-effective, but tissue gripping capability is insufficient requiring excessive force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue gripping capabilityVSAvoidsurface manufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a textured surface pattern to the retractor blade, changing the surface parameters from smooth to patterned with specific geometric features. This texture increases friction and gripping capability on tissue while maintaining compatibility with standard manufacturing processes like injection molding or metal forming, thus resolving the contradiction between gripping strength and manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The textured surface is applied specifically to the blade portion of the retractor that contacts tissue, while other portions remain smooth. This localized application provides enhanced gripping where needed without unnecessarily complicating the entire device manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If teeth or retraction elements are added to enhance gripping, then tissue gripping capability improves, but the risk of puncturing gloves and causing tissue trauma increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue gripping capabilityVSAvoidglove puncture risk and tissue trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the surface parameters from smooth to textured with a specific pattern that increases gripping capability without creating sharp protruding teeth. The texture provides mechanical interlocking with tissue through surface geometry rather than sharp edges, reducing the risk of glove puncture and tissue trauma while maintaining effective retraction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of needing strong gripping forces into a benefit by using a distributed textured surface pattern. Instead of concentrated sharp teeth that could puncture gloves, the texture distributes the gripping force across many small contact points, achieving effective tissue holding without the harmful concentration of stress at sharp edges

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS11896208B2Surgical retractor

Publication Date: 2024.02.13 AOD HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A surgical retractor and configured to minimize tearing of the gloves without compromising the ability to grip tissue. The surgical retractor has a handle, a blade, and a plurality of retraction elements. The retraction elements may be fixed to the blade but arranged in a specific configuration that a minimizes tearing of the gloves without compromising the ability to grip tissue. The retraction elements may also be made deployable by having a deployed configuration in which the retraction elements are exposed, and a stowed configuration in which the retraction elements are hidden.