Steerable Arthroscopic Instrument Hip Joint Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current arthroscopic instruments struggle to access and visualize the entire hip joint due to its complex anatomy, resulting in inaccessible 'No See' zones, which complicates minimally invasive surgical procedures and increases the risk of damaging surrounding delicate structures.
Innovation Solution
A steerable surgical instrument with a flexible distal end segment and operable tip, allowing for independent degrees of freedom such as curvilinear bending, rotation of the outer cutting window member, and high-speed rotation of the inner cutting member, enabling access to previously inaccessible areas of the hip joint through existing portals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If straight and rigid surgical instruments are used through standard portals, then the structure and control of the instrument is simple, but the area of the hip joint that can be visualized and accessed is limited, leaving 'No See' zones
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument incorporates a flexible distal end segment that can dynamically change its configuration from straight to curved, allowing the instrument to adapt to different anatomical pathways within the hip joint while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument uses a flexible distal end segment composed of multiple bendable sections that can be steered into curved configurations to access previously unreachable areas of the hip joint, eliminating 'No See' zones without requiring complex rigid mechanical systems
2Area of stationary object
If a third anterior portal is established to access far side of femoral head, then the accessible area of the hip joint is improved, but the risk of damaging surrounding delicate structures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible distal end segment acts as an intermediary that can navigate through the existing posterolateral and anterolateral portals, allowing access to the far side of the femoral head without creating a new anterior portal that would risk damaging nearby neurovascular structures
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument introduces curvilinear bending capability as an additional degree of freedom, allowing the distal end to reach around anatomical obstacles within the joint space rather than requiring direct linear access through high-risk external portals
3Adaptability or versatility
If the flexible distal end segment is bent into curvilinear configuration, then the ability to access previously inaccessible areas is improved, but the control and manipulation of the instrument becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The distal end of the instrument is divided into multiple separable bendable sections, each capable of independent angular adjustment, allowing the operator to control the curvilinear configuration in a stepwise manner rather than dealing with a single complex degree of freedom
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical device capable of interconnecting to an external motorized hand pieces, bending a distal end segment, rotating a window element positioned distal to the distal end segment and rotating independently of it, and actuating a cutting element positioned within the outer window element and rotating independently of it.