Side-Looking Surgical Instrument Assembly for Hard-to-Reach Sites

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing minimally invasive surgical systems, such as the da Vinci® Surgical System, face challenges in accessing certain surgical sites due to limited degrees of freedom and constraints imposed by intermediate tissue structures, which can hinder effective reach and maneuverability, particularly in complex anatomical areas.

Innovation Solution

The use of a surgical instrument inserted through a guide tube that exits at an intermediate position, oriented parallel to the tube's longitudinal axis, with a stereoscopic image capture component and jointed for movement, allowing for telemanipulative control and enhanced maneuverability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional surgical system with fixed entry point is used, then the system structure is simple, but the ability to access certain surgical sites is limited due to intermediate tissue structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to surgical sitesVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide tube is divided into multiple segments that can articulate relative to each other, allowing the distal end to navigate around intermediate tissue structures while the proximal end remains externally accessible. This segmentation enables the system to access previously unreachable surgical sites without requiring multiple external incisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical instrument exits the guide tube at an intermediate position rather than the distal end, creating a side-exit configuration that adds spatial dimensionality to the surgical approach. This allows instruments to reach lateral or posterior structures that would be inaccessible from a distal-only exit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the surgical instrument exits at the distal end of the guide tube, then the instrument path is straightforward, but the ability to navigate around intermediate tissue structures is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovemaneuverabilityVSAvoidinstrument path control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide tube incorporates articulated joints that allow dynamic reconfiguration of the tube's path. The tube can bend and articulate to navigate around intermediate tissue structures, providing dynamic adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple external configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If a single incision entry point is used, then patient trauma is reduced, but the degrees of freedom for instrument movement are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedegrees of freedomVSAvoidguide tube structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical instrument is inserted through the guide tube, with the instrument nested within the tubular structure. This nested configuration allows the instrument to benefit from the guide tube's articulated navigation capabilities while maintaining independent operational freedom at the distal end.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the surgical instrument is rigid, then structural strength is maintained, but the ability to navigate complex anatomical paths is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation capabilityVSAvoidinstrument structural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The guide tube is constructed with flexible segments that can bend and articulate while maintaining structural integrity. The flexible construction allows the tube to navigate complex anatomical paths without compromising the strength needed to support surgical instruments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS12465198B2Side-looking minimally invasive surgery instrument assembly

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS INC

AI summary

A surgical instrument assembly comprises a guide tube and first and second instruments extended within the guide tube. The first instrument comprises a first elongated shaft coupled to a first end effector. The second instrument comprises a second elongated shaft coupled to a second end effector. The surgical instrument assembly may also comprise an imaging assembly extended distally of the guide tube. The imaging assembly comprises a distal imaging component and an elongated imaging shaft. The distal imaging component is coupled to a distal end of the elongated imaging shaft by a pivot joint. The imaging assembly has a first configuration with the elongated imaging shaft aligned with the distal imaging component when inserted through the guide tube and a second configuration with the distal imaging component pivoted out of alignment with the elongated imaging shaft when the distal imaging component is extended from the guide tube.