Rotatable End Effector Electrical Contact for Colpotomy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current hysterectomy procedures often require multiple incisions and lack precise control over cutting implements, leading to complications such as vaginal cuff dehiscence and prolonged recovery times.
Innovation Solution
A colpotomy medical device with a tissue treatment assembly featuring an elongated body and a rotatable end effector that includes an axial electrical contact and a circumferential contact, allowing for precise control and minimally invasive procedures by providing current to the end effector through a flexible drive tube and couplings, facilitating uniform excision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional hysterectomy procedures are used, then the uterus can be removed, but multiple incisions are required and control over cutting implements is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional segments: an elongated body for insertion, a rotatable end effector for cutting, and electrical contacts for energy delivery. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall device manageability during minimally invasive procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The end effector is designed to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis, providing dynamic control during tissue resection. This rotational capability allows the surgeon to precisely control the cutting implement's orientation and movement, improving ease of operation while maintaining a relatively simple device structure
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional cutting implements are used, then tissue resection can be performed, but uniform excision is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical contacts provide real-time energy delivery to the end effector, creating a controlled thermal field that ensures uniform tissue excision. The consistent energy supply allows for predictable cutting performance, achieving uniform excision without sacrificing resection speed
Solution Approach 2:
The device replaces traditional mechanical cutting with electrical energy delivery to the end effector. This substitution provides more precise and uniform tissue excision compared to mechanical blades, while maintaining efficient resection through controlled energy application
3Loss of time
If open surgery is performed, then the uterus can be removed, but recovery time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The device extracts the need for large abdominal incisions by enabling minimally invasive access. The elongated body can be inserted through small incisions or the vagina, and the rotatable end effector performs resection internally, eliminating the need for large external incisions and thereby reducing recovery time and incision-related trauma
Solution Approach 2:
The elongated body of the device acts as a flexible delivery mechanism that can navigate through small access points. This flexible structure allows the cutting implement to reach the uterus through minimal incisions, reducing surgical trauma and accelerating patient recovery
4Ease of operation
If electrical contacts are made rotatable, then current can be maintained during rotation, but contact reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The axial and circumferential electrical contacts are merged into a coordinated system where the circumferential contact rotates with the end effector while maintaining continuous contact with the axial contact. This merging ensures reliable current delivery throughout the rotation cycle, maintaining both ease of operation and electrical contact stability
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 enables minimally invasive hysterectomy procedures with reduced incisions, improved control over the cutting implement, and faster recovery times by ensuring consistent energy delivery to the end effector during tissue resection.
Implementation Method 1
the tissue treatment assembly can include an axial first electrical contact electrically coupled to the end effector. In an embodiment, the axial first electrical contact can be affixed to the end effector while at the same time being rotatable with the end effector. In addition, the tissue treatment assembly can have a circumferential second electrical contact, arranged to contact the axial first electrical contact throughout a rotation of the end effector about the longitudinal axis
Data Source
AI summary
A colpotomy device having a tissue treatment assembly for performing a hysterectomy is provided. The tissue treatment assembly comprises an elongated body defining a longitudinal axis and an end effector coupled to a distal portion of the elongated body. The end effector can be offset from and rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The tissue treatment assembly also has an axial first electrical contact coupled to the end effector, where the axial first electrical contact is affixed to and rotatable with the end effector. Moreover, the tissue treatment assembly includes a circumferential second electrical contact that can be arranged to contact the axial first electrical contact throughout a rotation of the end effector about the longitudinal axis.