Rotating Nozzle Frontal Sinus Irrigation Instrument
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods, such as FESS, fail to effectively address bacterial biofilms in the frontal sinuses, as they interfere with the immune response and traditional antibiotic treatments, and existing irrigation systems face anatomical barriers that impede their use.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a handle, elongate introducer, irrigation channel, and rotatable nozzle, designed for minimally invasive insertion into the frontal sinus, which delivers a pressurized irrigant to mechanically disrupt and remove biofilms, utilizing a flexible distal tube to conform to the sinus anatomy and a rotatable nozzle to cover a large area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a straight rigid introducer is used for sinus irrigation, then the instrument structure is simple, but it cannot navigate the curved nasal/frontal sinus passageway
Solution Approach 1:
The introducer is designed with a curved distal segment that corresponds to the natural curvature of the nasal and frontal sinus passageways. This curved configuration allows the instrument to navigate the anatomical pathway effectively, with the distal segment following the contour of the sinus cavity while the proximal segment remains relatively linear for ease of insertion.
2Area of stationary object
If a fixed non-rotatable nozzle is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot cover the large target area of the frontal sinus
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is made rotatable relative to the introducer, allowing dynamic adjustment of the irrigation direction. This rotational capability enables the operator to direct the pressurized irrigant at different angles to cover the entire frontal sinus target area, transforming a static single-point irrigation into a dynamic multi-area treatment.
3Reliability
If traditional FESS is performed, then sinus ventilation is restored, but bacterial biofilms remain and interfere with immune response and antibiotic treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a pressurized irrigant delivered through the introducer and nozzle to mechanically disrupt and remove bacterial biofilms from the frontal sinus. The hydraulic pressure of the irrigant flow physically breaks down the biofilm structure, eliminating the protective barrier that interferes with immune response and antibiotic efficacy, thereby complementing the FESS procedure.
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 effectively reduces and removes bacterial biofilms from the frontal sinus, improving treatment efficacy by mechanically disrupting biofilms with a focused pressurized flow, enhancing drainage and ventilation while minimizing tissue damage and biofilm regrowth.
Implementation Method 1
delivering a pressurized flow of irrigant to a target site... mechanically disrupting biofilms with a focused pressurized flow
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument for irrigating a frontal sinus target site of a patient including a handle, an introducer, an irrigation channel, a nozzle, and an actuator assembly. The introducer extends from the handle and defines a proximal segment and a distal segment. At least a portion of the proximal segment is linear and at least a portion of the distal segment is relatively curved. The nozzle is fluidly connected to the irrigation channel, and is rotatably maintained at a distal end of the introducer. The actuator assembly includes an actuator maintained by the handle and connected to the nozzle. Movement of the actuator causes the nozzle to rotate relative to the introducer. The introducer can be sized and shaped in accordance with a size and a shape of a nasal passageway/frontal sinus of a human adult.