Rotating Inner Blade Surgical Instrument for Brain Tumor Resection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical methods for removing brain tumors, such as craniotomy, face challenges with delicate brain tissues, including unintended damage to the pia mater and surrounding healthy structures due to the friable nature of these tissues, and the use of instruments like CUSA and laser knives can cause collateral damage and spray of cancerous matter.

Innovation Solution

A surgical system with a cutting instrument featuring an outer blade and an inner blade coaxially disposed within, where the inner blade is rotatably exposed at a cutting window, allowing for precise tissue removal with controlled irrigation and aspiration, minimizing tissue damage and collateral injury.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If CUSA or laser knife instruments are used to remove brain tumors, then tissue removal efficiency is improved, but unintended damage to surrounding healthy structures and pia mater occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue removal efficiencyVSAvoidcollateral tissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting instrument is divided into an outer blade and an inner blade that are coaxially disposed, with the inner blade rotatably exposed at a cutting window. This segmentation allows the inner blade to perform precise cutting while the outer blade provides structural support and containment, reducing collateral damage to surrounding tissues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A cutting window is introduced as an intermediary structure between the inner blade and the tissue. This window allows controlled exposure of the cutting edge while providing a barrier that prevents unintended contact with surrounding healthy structures, thus reducing collateral damage while maintaining cutting efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If ultrasonic cutting tip is placed against tissue to be destroyed, then tumor removal is achieved, but high frequency cutting may damage surrounding tissue when touched by the instrument shaft

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetumor removal capabilityVSAvoidprecision of cutting

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The inner blade is nested within the outer blade in a coaxial arrangement. This nesting configuration allows the cutting edge to be precisely positioned and exposed only where needed through the cutting window, while the outer blade provides a protective sheath that prevents the shaft from contacting surrounding tissues, thereby improving both tumor removal capability and cutting precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Productivity

If laser knife is used for tumor removal, then cutting efficiency is improved, but thermal insult or thermal collateral of surrounding viable tissue occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting efficiencyVSAvoidthermal damage to surrounding tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces thermal-based laser cutting with a mechanical cutting system consisting of rotating inner and outer blades. This mechanical substitution eliminates thermal insult and thermal collateral damage to surrounding viable tissue while maintaining cutting efficiency through the precise mechanical interaction between the blades and tumor tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Productivity

If ultrasonic devices are used for tumor resection, then tissue removal is achieved, but spray of cancerous matter occurs during treatment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue resection capabilityVSAvoidspray of cancerous matter

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The outer blade acts as a flexible yet sturdy shell that encloses the inner blade and contains the cutting action within the cutting window. This shell structure prevents the spray of cancerous matter by containing the resection process, while still allowing effective tissue removal through the controlled exposure at the cutting window.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 system enables efficient and precise removal of brain tumors with reduced risk of normal tissue damage, providing clean cuts and minimizing the spread of cancerous material, while maintaining effective tissue removal capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

supplying fluid through an irrigation pathway to the cutting window and the target site

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIrrigation:

Implementation Method 2

aspirating fluid and cut tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAspiration: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS9737322B2Method for resection of tumors and tissues

Publication Date: 2017.08.22 MEDTRONIC XOMED INC

AI summary

A surgical method of removing tissue of a patient includes grasping a surgical cutting instrument. The instrument includes an outer blade including a tubular body, an end cap, and a cutting window defined by an edge on at least the end cap, and an inner blade including a cutting tip, the inner blade co-axially disposed within the outer blade, the cutting tip including a cutting edge extending toward the end cap of the outer blade, wherein the cutting tip is rotatably exposed at the cutting window. The method further includes positioning the cutting window and cutting tip to a target site, supplying fluid through an irrigation pathway to the cutting window and the target site, rotating the cutting tip of the inner blade to selectively cut the tissue, and aspirating fluid and cut tissue.