Spring-Loaded Arced Tip Cannula for Deep Pelvic Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laparoscopic surgery methods face challenges in accessing the deep pelvic space due to obstruction by the sacral promontory, requiring additional incisions to remove fluid buildup, which increases complexity and risk.
Innovation Solution
A cannula system with a flexible or spring-loaded arced inner tube that can arc around the sacral promontory, allowing access to the deep pelvic space through a single incision, featuring a rigid outer tube and a sliding inner tube with a suction-irrigation tip and handle for fluid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a rigid suction-irrigation cannula is used to access the deep pelvic space, then the cannula structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the cannula cannot access the deep pelvic space due to obstruction by the sacral promontory
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula incorporates a flexible distal section that can dynamically change its configuration from straight to arced. This dynamic flexibility allows the cannula to adapt its shape to navigate around the sacral promontory and access the deep pelvic space, while maintaining structural simplicity for ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula's physical parameters are changed by making the distal section flexible rather than rigid. This parameter change in rigidity allows the cannula to bend and arc around anatomical obstructions while maintaining the overall simple cannula structure.
2Ease of operation
If another incision is made lower in the abdomen to access the deep pelvic space, then access to the deep pelvic space is achieved, but the number of incisions increases and surgical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible distal section of the cannula dynamically arcs around the sacral promontory, enabling access to the deep pelvic space through a single superior incision. This eliminates the need for additional inferior incisions, reducing surgical complexity and the number of access points required.
3Ease of operation
If a flexible distal section is added to the cannula to access the deep pelvic space, then access to the deep pelvic space is enabled, but the cannula structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula is segmented into distinct sections: a rigid proximal section and a flexible distal section. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function while maintaining overall structural simplicity. The flexible distal section is the minimal necessary addition to enable deep pelvic access.
Solution Approach 2:
Only the distal section of the cannula is made flexible, while the proximal section remains rigid. This local quality change applies flexibility only where needed for navigation, maintaining structural simplicity in the majority of the cannula structure.
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
Enables effective suction and irrigation of the deep pelvic space without additional incisions, reducing surgical complexity and recovery time by utilizing a single incision access.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-loaded arced section interposed between the suction-irrigation tip and a rigid inner tube segment. The spring-loaded arced section has at least one arc shape when unconstrained by the rigid outer tube
Data Source
AI summary
A cannula to access the deep pelvic space of a patient from the patient's abdomen that is generally inaccessible from the incision due to being obstructed by the patient's sacral promontory is presented. The cannula can have an inner tube that slides within a rigid outer tube. The inner tube has a suction-irrigation tip located at the distal tube end and a spring-loaded pre-bent tube section interposed between the suction-irrigation tip and a rigid inner tube, which extends from the flexible tube section, outside of the proximal end of the rigid outer tube, where it is attached to a handle. The pre-bent tube section can comprise at least one arc or bend. A handle connected to the tubes has an exit port centered in the handle, which is configured to suck fluid buildup in the deep pelvic space when the exit port is connected to a suction source via a suction tube.