Sternal Saw with Integrated RF Blade and Camera
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sternotomy saws are highly dependent on operator skill and pose a high risk of injury to cardiac and vascular structures during re-do cardiac surgery, as they require manual control and lack visualization tools, leading to increased morbidity and mortality risks.
Innovation Solution
A surgical sternal saw with an integrated radiofrequency blade and camera, allowing for simultaneous visualization and safe cutting of the sternum, featuring a base with a angled leading edge and an electrocautery member to cauterize blood vessels, reducing the risk of injury to underlying structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current sternotomy saws are used, then the cutting function is provided, but the risk of injury to cardiac and vascular structures increases due to lack of visualization and high operator skill dependency
Solution Approach 1:
A camera system is introduced as an intermediary between the surgeon and the surgical field, providing real-time visualization of the tissue plane and underlying structures. This mediator enables the surgeon to see through the sternum and identify critical structures before cutting, thereby reducing the risk of injury without requiring advanced operator skill.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera provides continuous visual feedback to the surgeon during the cutting process, allowing real-time adjustment of the cutting path. The electrocautery element also provides feedback by sealing blood vessels as they are encountered, giving visual and functional confirmation of safe progression through the sternum.
Solution Approach 3:
The manual mechanical control system is replaced with an automated electrocautery element that automatically seals blood vessels as it progresses through the sternum. This substitution reduces reliance on operator skill and provides consistent, reliable hemostasis while minimizing risk to underlying structures.
2Ease of operation
If manual control of sternotomy saw is used, then flexibility in cutting is provided, but the time required for careful cutting increases to over one hour
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is positioned and focused on the surgical field before cutting begins, and the electrocautery element is pre-positioned at the leading edge of the base. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for time-consuming adjustments during the procedure, allowing the surgeon to proceed with cutting immediately and efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrocautery element operates continuously as it progresses through the sternum, automatically sealing blood vessels without interruption. The camera provides continuous visualization throughout the procedure, eliminating the need to stop for assessment and maintaining uninterrupted cutting action, thereby reducing total procedure time.
3Reliability
If maximum patience and care are used in cutting, then some safety is improved, but catastrophic injury cannot be reliably avoided when structures adhere to the back of sternum
Solution Approach 1:
The camera visualizes the tissue plane and identifies adherent structures before the cutting blade reaches them. The electrocautery element is positioned at the leading edge to pre-seal any blood vessels or adhereent structures before mechanical cutting occurs, preventing catastrophic injury even when structures are firmly attached to the sternum.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrocautery element acts as a protective cushion by sealing blood vessels and loosening adherent structures before the mechanical blade encounters them. This preliminary thermal action creates a safety buffer that prevents sudden, catastrophic injury even when maximum care is taken during manual cutting.
4Productivity
If electrocautery blade is used for cutting, then cutting function is provided, but mechanical injury or damage from electrocautery to underlying structures may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the electrocautery function from the mechanical cutting function. The electrocautery element is confined to the base that remains outside the body, while a separate mechanical blade performs the cutting. This segmentation allows electrocautery to seal vessels without risking thermal injury to deep structures, while the mechanical blade cuts without causing uncontrolled bleeding.
Solution Approach 2:
The base acts as an intermediary that contains the electrocautery element and positions it at the leading edge. This intermediary structure allows the electrocautery to act on the sternum surface and seal vessels before the mechanical blade cuts, preventing thermal injury to underlying structures while maintaining cutting efficiency.
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 safe and precise cutting of the sternum with reduced blood loss and improved visualization, allowing for faster and safer performance of both primary and re-do sternotomies by protecting cardiac and vascular structures from mechanical injury.
Implementation Method 1
an integrated radiofrequency blade
Implementation Method 2
The device can further comprise a member configured to perform cautery placed on the base in a position to contact blood vessels as the device cuts the sternum. The member can be one or more strips of a material that heats-up when electricity passes through the material.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a surgical saw for cutting a sternum comprising: a) a body, b) a handle attached to the body; c) a blade positioned in such way to cut the sternum when a user holds the handle, and d) a base below the blade configured to be positioned below the sternum, wherein the user places the base under the sternum and cuts the sternum with the blade.