Segmented Surgical Retractor with Differential Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical retractors face challenges in efficiently changing configurations to navigate through restricted openings and maintain stability within the body, particularly during endoscopic surgeries, due to high force requirements and potential trauma to tissues.

Innovation Solution

A surgical instrument with an elongate portion comprising pivotally connected segments that can change configuration from a straight to a hooked shape, utilizing a wire and control members to facilitate movement and reduce trauma, allowing for precise manipulation and reduced force requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a retractor uses pivotally connected segments to change configuration, then adaptability to navigate restricted openings is improved, but the force required to move segments increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration change capabilityVSAvoidforce required to move segments

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The retractor is divided into multiple pivotally connected segments that can move relative to each other, enabling configuration changes to navigate restricted openings while distributing the mechanical stress across multiple joints rather than requiring excessive force at a single point

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The retractor transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one with pivotally connected segments that can change configuration in response to spatial constraints, allowing adaptive movement through restricted openings without requiring excessive insertion force

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a retractor maintains stability within the body, then reliability is improved, but tissue trauma increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability within bodyVSAvoidtissue trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The retractor employs a flexible design with pivotally connected segments that can conform to anatomical structures, providing stable positioning and reliability while reducing tissue trauma through gentle, adaptive contact rather than rigid fixation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic configuration capability allows the retractor to adapt its shape to match the anatomical space available, maintaining stability and reliability by conforming to body contours while minimizing tissue trauma through flexible, non-invasive positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If a retractor uses adjacent pivotally connected segments, then adaptability to change configuration is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidnumber of pivotally connected segments

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retractor is segmented into multiple pivotally connected sections, each capable of independent movement, which provides high configuration flexibility and adaptability while distributing the complexity across modular, repeating units that can be manufactured and assembled systematically

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9232936B2Retractors

Publication Date: 2016.01.12 SURGICAL INNOVATIONS

AI summary

A retractor having an elongate portion with first and second parts each with adjacent pivotally connected segments pivotable from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein in the second configurations the adjacent segments abut each other to inhibit further movement, at least one of the parts including a control whereby a force required to move the first part from the first configuration towards the second configuration is less than the force required to move the second part from the first configuration towards the second configuration, and an actuator arranged to urge the first and second parts from the first to the second configurations at the same time.