Spine-Mounted Nerve Retractor With Self-Retaining Angle Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical procedures requiring nerve root retraction necessitate a surgical assistant to hold the retractor, leading to potential nerve damage due to fatigue and instability, increasing the risk of complications.
Innovation Solution
A nerve retractor designed to be secured to the spine, allowing a surgeon to manipulate the angle of orientation and retract spinal sac and nerve roots without the need for an additional assistant, featuring a base portion, arm portion, and anatomical structure retractor with modular engaging members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a surgical assistant holds the nerve retractor during surgery, then the retractor can be positioned and adjusted, but the assistant's fatigue and hand instability increase the risk of nerve damage
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor system is designed to be self-retaining with locking mechanisms that secure the retractor in position without requiring continuous manual holding. The self-retaining feature allows the retractor to maintain its position independently, eliminating the need for assistant intervention and reducing nerve damage risk from human fatigue and instability.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical system of assistant-held retraction is replaced with a mechanically self-retaining system featuring locking mechanisms and stabilizing structures. This substitution transforms the retractor from a manually-controlled device to an autonomous positioning system that maintains stability without human intervention.
2Manufacturing precision
If a surgical assistant continuously adjusts the retractor to maintain optimal positioning, then surgical precision can be maintained, but the complexity of the surgical team and procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor incorporates adjustable and adaptable features that allow it to be configured for different surgical scenarios while maintaining precision. The dynamic adjustment capabilities are built into the device itself, allowing single-user control while maintaining the precision that previously required continuous assistant intervention and team coordination.
3Ease of operation
If the retractor is designed to be held by hand, then it can be easily manipulated and positioned, but it becomes unstable during lengthy procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor is divided into modular components including adjustable arms, locking mechanisms, and interchangeable retractor blades. This segmentation allows for easy manipulation and positioning during surgery while the locking mechanisms provide stable, fixed positioning once the desired configuration is achieved, eliminating the instability associated with continuous manual holding.
Data Source
AI summary
A retractor, preferably a nerve root retractor, comprising three components: an upper portion, a mid-portion, and a lower portion. The nerve retractor is designed to eliminate the requirement of having a person hold the retractor tool during a surgical procedure. The nerve retractor can be secured to a portion of the anatomical structure involved with, or near, the surgical procedure site, and utilizes an actuating device which allows the user to manipulate the angle of orientation of the arm portion or anatomical structure retractor portion. The anatomical structure retractor may comprise a modular anatomical structure engaging member/head, allowing the surgeon to use multiple or differently configured structure engaging members/heads during a procedure as needed.