Selectively Positionable Camera for Surgical Guide Tube
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic procedures face challenges in the simultaneous and precise manipulation of multiple surgical instruments and cameras due to the need for anatomical alignment, particularly in Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES), where clinicians struggle with coordinating and positioning multiple devices within a body cavity.
Innovation Solution
A selectively positionable camera assembly with a guide tube assembly featuring a flexible camera portion, a camera handle, and a retainer system with spring-biased ball detents that allows for adjustable rotational and axial positioning, enabling easier manipulation and alignment of the camera within the guide tube handle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard gastroscope through an overtube is used for NOTES procedures, then access to the treatment region is achieved, but the clinician must use one hand to manage the overtube and the second hand to rotate and/or articulate the gastroscope, making coordination and precise manipulation challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The camera assembly is integrated with the guide tube assembly, combining two previously separate devices into one unified system. The camera handle is movably supported by the guide tube handle portion, allowing both devices to be manipulated together through a single handle interface, thereby improving ease of operation while reducing the effective complexity of managing multiple separate devices
Solution Approach 2:
The guide tube handle portion serves multiple functions: it guides the flexible camera portion through the body cavity, provides movable support for the camera handle, and incorporates a retainer system for positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, addressing the complexity issue while maintaining operational ease
2Measurement precision
If both hands are required to operate an overtube that can articulate in four directions, then precise positioning is achieved, but the manipulation becomes complicated due to the need to also position and manipulate a camera
Solution Approach 1:
The camera handle and guide tube handle are integrated into a single movable support system, allowing the clinician to control both camera positioning and guide tube articulation through one handle interface. This integration maintains precise positioning capability while simplifying manipulation by eliminating the need to separately manage two independent control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The camera handle is designed to be movably supported by the guide tube handle portion, allowing dynamic adjustment of camera position and orientation relative to the guide tube. This dynamic support system enables precise positioning through a single handle, reducing the complexity of simultaneous manipulation while maintaining articulation precision
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple surgical instruments are used simultaneously in NOTES procedures, then comprehensive treatment capability is achieved, but coordinating and precisely manipulating multiple devices within a body cavity becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated camera and guide tube assembly serves as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple working channels and surgical instruments. The guide tube structure provides a common support system for various instruments while the integrated camera provides centralized visualization, making it easier to coordinate multiple devices through a single reference frame
Solution Approach 2:
The guide tube assembly includes multiple working channels that can accommodate different surgical instruments simultaneously. Each channel is segmented and can be independently manipulated while the integrated camera provides centralized visualization, making it easier to coordinate multiple devices through a single reference frame
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
Facilitates precise and comfortable viewing orientations during surgical procedures by allowing adjustable axial and rotational positioning of the camera, reducing the complexity of handling multiple instruments and improving the clinician's ability to manage multiple devices simultaneously.
Implementation Method 1
a retainer on at least one of said portion of said guide tube handle portion and said camera handle for releasably retaining said camera handle in any one of a plurality of rotational orientations and in any one of a plurality of axial positions relative to said portion of said guide tube handle portion, wherein said camera handle comprises a distal barrel portion that has a series of dimples formed therein, said distal barrel portion being sized to be movably received within a passage in said guide tube handle portion and wherein said retainer comprises at least one spring biased ball detent in said guide tube handle portion for retaining engagement with any one of said series of dimples
Data Source
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AI summary
A selectively positionable camera assembly for use in connection with a guide tube assembly that has a guide tube handle portion and at least one guide tube protruding therefrom. In various embodiments, the camera includes an elongated flexible camera portion that is sized to operably extend through at least one of the guide tubes of the guide tube assembly. A camera handle is operably coupled to the elongated flexible camera portion such that the handle is movably supported by at least a portion of the guide tube handle portion. At least one retainer is provided on the guide tube handle and/or the camera handle for releasably retaining the camera handle in any one of a plurality of orientations relative to the portion of the guide tube handle.