Semi-rigid Basket for Endoscopic Tissue Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopic surgical retrieval devices face challenges in durability and reliability, with semi-rigid wire baskets being prone to tissue pieces slipping through and soft, sagging nets being too delicate and unreliable for capturing and holding materials during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A semi-rigid basket design combining resilient wire frame members with flexible thread segments, where the thread segments are laced through and attached to the wire frame members, enhancing durability and reliability by maintaining shape and retaining captured tissue pieces even if some threads break.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a semi-rigid wire basket is used, then the device can maintain its shape and structure, but tissue pieces can slip through the wire gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines wire frame members with a net or mesh material to create a hybrid basket structure. The wire frame provides structural support and shape maintenance, while the net material fills the gaps between wires to prevent tissue pieces from slipping through, thus merging the advantages of both rigid and flexible structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The basket is constructed using composite materials consisting of wire frame members and net material. This composite structure integrates the strength and shape stability of wires with the tissue-retaining properties of the net, creating a reliable retrieval device that addresses both shape maintenance and tissue retention requirements.
2Reliability
If a soft net is used, then tissue pieces are retained effectively, but the net is too delicate and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the soft net material with rigid wire frame members. The net maintains its effectiveness in retaining tissue pieces, while the wire frame provides the necessary strength and durability to prevent the delicate net from tearing or deforming during the retrieval procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The net or mesh material acts as a flexible shell that conforms to the wire frame structure. This flexible component effectively retains tissue pieces through its mesh structure while relying on the underlying wire frame for structural support, thus maintaining both tissue retention and durability.
3Strength
If resilient wire frame members are used, then durability is improved, but tissue pieces can slip through
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges resilient wire frame members with a net material covering. The wire frame members provide durability and resilience to withstand procedural forces, while the net material overlaid on the frame prevents tissue pieces from slipping through the wire gaps, thus achieving both durability and tissue retention.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid structure is used, then shape stability is maintained, but the device is too harsh and may damage tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a net or mesh material as a flexible shell covering the wire frame. This flexible net layer provides shape stability through the underlying rigid frame while the soft net surface gently contacts and retains tissue pieces without causing damage, thus reconciling shape stability with tissue safety.
Data Source
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AI summary
Surgical retrieval devices (10,110,160,170,180,200,220,330,401,501) for capturing tissues and fluids in endoscopic and laproscopic operations include a semi-rigid, resiliently collapsible and expandable basket (12,112,312,412) comprising a structural combination of resilient, semi-rigid snare wire (31,32,131,132,531,532) and frame wire members (33,34,35,36,37,133,134,135,136,137,437) that are formed with a yieldable bend configuration that together flare into a basket form when extended out of a catheter (16). The basket is enhanced by surrounds of net, mesh, or impervious material (162,172,202,222,302,420) for retaining smaller bits of tissue or fluids, or with a web of interspersed flexible threads (60,184) for enhanced tissue retaining capability.