Rotating Irrigation-Evacuation Probe for Surgical Debris Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing material from surgical sites, such as blood clots and cancer cells, are inefficient and can lead to complications like clogging drainage systems and potential cancer cell spread.
Innovation Solution
An energy source supported on a carrier is configured to rotate relative to the carrier, directing energy such as a fluid stream towards an evacuation lumen to remove material, using a laser, water jet, ultrasound, or RF energy sources to enhance removal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If material is removed from surgical site using conventional drainage systems, then material removal is achieved, but drainage systems can be clogged by blood clots and tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the energy source from the conventional drainage system and positions it at the distal end of the catheter, allowing direct energy application to material near the opening to prevent clogging while maintaining drainage functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces energy (fluid stream, laser, ultrasound, or RF) as an intermediary to break down or remove material that would otherwise clog the drainage system, enabling continuous material removal without blocking the evacuation lumen
2Productivity
If water jet is used to remove tissue from surgical site, then tissue removal is achieved, but additional fluid is added to be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the irrigation function and evacuation function into a single catheter system with the energy source positioned at the distal end, allowing simultaneous tissue removal and fluid management through the same pathway, thereby reducing the total fluid volume that needs to be handled separately
3Ease of operation
If fluid is provided to surgical site to space tissue from probe, then tissue spacing is achieved, but material removal becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the catheter system multi-functional by integrating tissue spacing (via fluid provision), material removal (via evacuation lumen), and energy delivery (via distal energy source) into a single device, eliminating the need for separate instruments and simplifying the overall 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 solution effectively draws flowable material towards the evacuation lumen, improving removal efficiency and reducing the risk of clogging and cancer cell spread.
Implementation Method 1
An energy source supported on a carrier is configured to rotate relative to the carrier to direct energy such as a fluid stream from the energy source toward an opening of an evacuation lumen
Implementation Method 2
The energy source on the energy delivery probe may comprise one or more of a laser energy source
Implementation Method 3
The energy source on the energy delivery probe may comprise one or more of a water jet
Implementation Method 4
The energy source on the energy delivery probe may comprise one or more of an ultrasound energy source
Implementation Method 5
The energy source on the energy delivery probe may comprise one or more of an electrical energy source such as a radiofrequency (RF) energy source
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid source on a carrier is configured to rotate relative to a probe to direct a fluid stream from the source toward an opening of an evacuation lumen. This may help to remove material that may collect near the opening, such as blood clots and tissue. Also, directing the fluid stream toward the evacuation lumen can draw flowable material from the surgical site toward the evacuation lumen to improve removal of material from the surgical site.