Spring-Loaded Surgical Instrument Prevents Overshooting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments for piercing into the human or animal body, such as Veress needles, face challenges in accurately inserting the needle without overshooting into underlying organs due to the sudden loss of resistance during tissue penetration.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a needle-like outer portion connected to a spring-loaded inner portion, featuring a proximal sleeve with a displaceable hook that engages with a ring on the outer portion. The instrument includes a release mechanism that neutralizes the driving force when the inner portion activates it, preventing overshooting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the Veress needle uses a spring-loaded inner stylet to automatically cover the sharp tip after tissue penetration, then the insertion process becomes simpler and more effective, but the sudden loss of resistance causes the needle to accelerate and overshoot into underlying organs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing haptic feedback that warns the surgeon before the needle tip reaches the abdominal cavity. The feedback mechanism detects tissue penetration events and generates resistive forces that counteract the impending overshoot, allowing the surgeon to adjust insertion depth proactively rather than reactively after overshooting occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using sensors to detect tissue penetration events and providing real-time haptic feedback through the handle or robotic system. This closed-loop feedback allows the surgeon to sense when the needle is approaching the abdominal cavity and adjust the insertion force accordingly, preventing overshoot while maintaining the simplicity of the spring-loaded mechanism.
2Productivity
If the surgeon applies force to insert the needle through the abdominal wall, then the puncture is achieved, but the slow reaction time of the human control system prevents timely response to tissue penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical human control system with an enhanced system that includes sensors and haptic feedback mechanisms. The sensor system detects tissue penetration events electronically and transmits signals to provide immediate haptic feedback, eliminating the delay inherent in human sensory processing and reaction time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary feedback mechanism between the needle tip and the surgeon's hand. The haptic feedback system acts as an intermediary that translates tissue penetration events into tactile sensations, allowing the surgeon to perceive tissue interactions with delayed response times compressed into near-real-time feedback.
3Reliability
If the Veress needle uses a blunt inner stylet to spring forward and cover the sharp tip, then safety is improved, but the mechanism cannot be fully relied upon without skilled operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances the reliability of the safety mechanism by adding haptic feedback that guides the surgeon in operating the instrument correctly. The feedback system provides tactile cues that help the surgeon understand tissue penetration events and adjust handling techniques accordingly, reducing the learning curve while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing haptic guidance before critical events occur. The feedback system prepares the surgeon for upcoming tissue penetration events, allowing proactive adjustment of insertion depth and force, thereby making the safety mechanism more reliable without requiring extensive skill development.
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
The instrument effectively prevents overshooting by automatically releasing the sleeve from the outer portion when the inner portion moves forward, thereby controlling the insertion depth and reducing the risk of damaging underlying tissues.
Implementation Method 1
said outer portion connects to the inner portion through a spring so as to provide with the outer portion during use a load on the inner portion
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical instrument (10) for piercing into a human or animal body, said instrument (10) comprising an inner portion (11) which is movably arranged within an needle-like outer portion (12), wherein said outer portion (12) connects to the inner portion (11) through a spring (13) so as to provide with the outer portion (12) during use a load on the inner portion (11), wherein said outer portion (12) is provided with a proximal sleeve (14) that provides a finger grip to a surgeon, wherein the sleeve (14) is releasably connectable to the outer portion (12) and that the instrument (10) is provided with a release mechanism (17) for releasing the sleeve (14) from the outer portion (12), which release mechanism (17) is actuable by motion of the inner portion (11).