Tissue Specimen Retrieval Bag with Distal Cinch Tab

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Solution Overview

Problem

Minimally-invasive surgical procedures face challenges in retrieving large tissue specimens from internal body cavities due to restricted access, which often requires breaking down the specimen into smaller pieces and maintaining an enclosed environment to prevent cancer cell seeding.

Innovation Solution

A tissue specimen retrieval device with a housing, outer shaft, end effector assembly, tissue specimen bag, cinch loop, and distal cinch tab, which allows for the deployment of the end effector assembly and articulation of the tissue specimen bag to facilitate specimen retrieval while maintaining an enclosed environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large tissue specimen is retrieved intact through a minimally-invasive opening, then the enclosed environment is maintained to prevent cancer cell seeding, but the restricted access prevents retrieval of large specimens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenclosed environment maintenanceVSAvoidspecimen size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The tissue specimen bag is divided into multiple segments or lobes that can expand independently. This segmentation allows the bag to accommodate large specimens by distributing them across multiple compartments, enabling intact retrieval without breaking down the specimen while maintaining the enclosed environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tissue specimen bag is nested within the end effector assembly, which itself is nested within the outer shaft. This nested configuration allows the bag to be delivered through a minimally-invasive opening in a compact state, then deployed to expand and accommodate large specimens without requiring breakdown.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Length of moving object

If the tissue specimen bag is expanded to accommodate large specimens, then intact retrieval is enabled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecimen capacityVSAvoidbag deployment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tissue specimen bag transitions from a compressed delivery configuration to an expanded retrieval configuration through dynamic deployment. The bag includes deployable walls that can transition between compressed and expanded states, allowing it to accommodate large specimens while maintaining a compact profile during delivery through the minimally-invasive opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The tissue specimen bag is constructed from flexible materials that can transition between compressed and expanded states. The bag walls are designed to be flexible yet maintain structural integrity, allowing the bag to expand to accommodate large specimens while remaining deliverable through small openings and maintain the enclosed environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If the end effector assembly is articulated to facilitate specimen retrieval, then maneuverability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovemaneuverabilityVSAvoidarticulation mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The end effector assembly includes articulation mechanisms that allow it to dynamically adjust its orientation and position within the body cavity. This articulation capability enables the end effector to facilitate retrieval of specimens from various angles and positions, improving maneuverability while the mechanisms are designed to be integrated into the existing device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If the cinch loop is constricted to close the bag opening, then the enclosed environment is maintained, but the force required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenclosed environment sealVSAvoidcinching force

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The cinch loop mechanism utilizes a tab that extends in a direction perpendicular to the main axis of the bag. By pulling on this distally-oriented tab, the cinch loop is constricted around the specimen, distributing the closing force across multiple points around the bag opening rather than concentrating it at a single point, thereby reducing the force required to maintain the enclosed environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12201281B2Tissue specimen retrieval bags, devices, and systems

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

A tissue specimen retrieval device includes a housing, an outer shaft extending distally from the housing, an end effector assembly extending distally from the outer shaft in a deployed position, a tissue specimen bag supported on the end effector assembly and including an open end extending between proximal and distal end portions of the end effector assembly, a cinch loop disposed about the open end of the tissue specimen bag, and a distal cinch tab. The distal cinch tab is disposed at the distal end portion of the end effector assembly and extends from the open end of the tissue specimen bag. The distal cinch tab is operably coupled to the cinch loop such that pulling the distal cinch tab distally relative to the cinch loop constricts the cinch loop about the open end of the tissue specimen bag to cinch the open end of the tissue specimen bag closed.