Single-Portal Microdebrider Cannula for Suction and Irrigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing orthopedic arthroscopy procedures require multiple portals for instrumentation, leading to increased patient discomfort, blood loss, and reduced surgical efficiency, while existing single portal systems struggle with simultaneous suction and irrigation due to insufficient space within the cannula diameter.

Innovation Solution

A single portal surgical apparatus with a slotted microdebrider design that allows simultaneous suction and irrigation through a smaller caliper cannula, utilizing a first cannula with a second cannula having longitudinal slots for fluid flow and a third cannula for tissue debridement, enabling a larger microdebrider shaft for efficient tissue removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple surgical portals are used for arthroscopy, then irrigation and suction can be provided separately, but the number of incision sites increases causing more pain and blood loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveirrigation and suction capabilityVSAvoidpatient discomfort and blood loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple surgical functions (irrigation, suction, and instrument passage) into a single portal system. The outer cannula incorporates both irrigation and suction lumens, allowing simultaneous fluid management through one access site rather than requiring separate portals for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single portal cannula is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both an irrigation channel and suction channel simultaneously. The instrument shaft with circumferential slots provides both structural support and suction capability, while the outer cannula delivers irrigation fluid, creating a universal access point for multiple surgical needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a smaller optical cannula diameter is used, then patient tolerance improves, but there is insufficient space for irrigation and suction channels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient toleranceVSAvoidspace for fluid channels
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a nested configuration where the instrument shaft is positioned inside the outer cannula. The instrument shaft with its circumferential slots provides suction functionality, while the outer cannula contains irrigation lumens. This nesting allows multiple functional elements to coexist within a compact diameter, maximizing space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The instrument shaft incorporates circumferential slots that extend around the shaft, creating suction pathways in a radial dimension rather than requiring a large longitudinal channel. This dimensional approach allows efficient fluid removal without increasing the overall cannula diameter, maintaining a compact profile while providing adequate suction capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If a larger microdebrider shaft is used, then tissue removal speed increases, but the cannula diameter must be larger reducing patient tolerance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue removal speedVSAvoidcannula size and patient discomfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The microdebrider shaft is segmented with circumferential slots rather than being a solid continuous structure. This segmentation provides multiple suction openings around the shaft, enhancing debris removal efficiency during high-speed debridement. The slots allow effective tissue removal while maintaining a smaller overall shaft diameter compared to traditional solid microdebrider designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a single portal system is implemented, then the number of incisions is reduced, but coordinating irrigation and suction through one channel becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of incisionsVSAvoidfluid management coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges irrigation and suction functions into a single portal by incorporating both irrigation lumens in the outer cannula and suction slots in the instrument shaft. This integration allows simultaneous fluid management through one access site, eliminating the need for separate portals while maintaining coordinated irrigation and suction capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Minimizes patient discomfort and improves surgical efficiency by reducing incision sites and allowing simultaneous suction and irrigation, while maintaining a large enough inner diameter for the microdebrider shaft, thus enhancing surgical speed and reducing the need for multiple instruments.

Implementation Method 1

a first cannula to couple to a fluid receptacle such that fluid flows from the fluid receptacle through a proximal opening of the first cannula

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

the second cannula including a first distal opening and a first slot longitudinally extending along a length of the second cannula, wherein the fluid entering the proximal opening of the first cannula is to flow through the first slot and exit at a distal end of the apparatus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow through slots:

Implementation Method 3

a third cannula to couple within the second cannula such that an outer wall of the third cannula is in touching relation with an inner wall of the second cannula, the third cannula including a second distal opening that rotationally interacts with the first distal opening during debridement of tissue

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotational cutting:

Data Source

PatentEP4545023B1Single portal, surgical apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.05.13 RESNENT LLC
  • EP4545023B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4545023B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4545023B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Some implementations of the disclosure are directed to single portal surgical systems. In one implementation, an apparatus includes first, second, and third cannulas. Fluid flows through a proximal opening of the first cannula. The second cannula couples within the first cannula such that an outer wall of the second cannula contacts an inner wall of the first cannula. The second cannula includes a first distal opening and a first slot longitudinally extending along the second cannula. Fluid entering the proximal opening flows through the first slot and exits at a distal end of the. The third cannula couples within the second cannula such that an outer wall of the third cannula is in touching relation with an inner wall of the second cannula. The third cannula includes a second distal opening that rotationally interacts with the first distal opening during tissue debridement.