Segmented Surgical Access Instrument for Angular Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical access instruments for minimally invasive spinal surgeries restrict angular freedom and visibility due to their design, leading to increased complexity and trauma to the patient, as they often require frequent adjustments and larger incisions to accommodate larger instruments.
Innovation Solution
An access instrument with a body featuring multiple slots and openings along its length, allowing for greater angular freedom and visibility, which includes a rim with circumferentially opposite openings and a securement mechanism like a hirth joint for mounting, enabling instruments to be inserted at varying angles without increasing the size of the working portal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a larger access instrument is used to increase angular access and visibility, then the working portal size increases, but tissue trauma increases and larger incisions are required
Solution Approach 1:
The access instrument body is segmented with multiple slots of different lengths and orientations (first slot, second slot, third slot) allowing instruments to access different angles through separate pathways. This segmentation enables multiple angular access directions without increasing the overall instrument size or incision requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The access instrument incorporates slots extending in multiple dimensions and orientations (longitudinal, transverse, angular) rather than a single linear opening. This multi-dimensional slot configuration allows instruments to approach the working portal from various angles simultaneously, increasing angular access without proportionally increasing the portal size.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the mounting arm is constantly loosened to readjust the access instrument, then adaptability to surgical needs is improved, but time consumption increases and tissue creep occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting arm incorporates a dynamic locking mechanism with selectable engagement positions (first engagement position, second engagement position, locked position) that allows the instrument to be securely fixed at multiple predetermined angles. This dynamic positioning system provides adaptability without requiring constant loosening and readjustment, thereby reducing time loss and preventing tissue creep.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple engagement positions and angular orientations are pre-configured in the mounting arm mechanism. The surgeon can select from these pre-positioned angles during surgery without performing time-consuming readjustments, as the desired angular orientation is already prepared in advance through the locking mechanism's predetermined positions.
3Strength
If a non-oval-shaped access instrument is used, then structural strength is maintained, but angular access and visibility are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single monolithic opening, the access instrument body is segmented with multiple slots (first slot, second slot, third slot) of different lengths and orientations. This segmentation allows the instrument to maintain structural strength through its overall non-oval configuration while providing multiple angular access pathways through the distributed slots, overcoming the limitation of single-opening designs.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, an access instrument for creating a surgical working portal includes a body having a first end and a body length, a first slot having a first slot length running along the length of the body from the first end, and a second slot having a second slot length running along the length of the body from the first end, wherein the first slot length and the second slot length are less than the body length.