Surgical Suction Tip With Ejection Wire for Clog Clearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical suction tips often clog due to biological debris, necessitating a solution for efficient and safe unclogging during procedures.
Innovation Solution
An anti-clog suction tip apparatus with an ejection wire assembly that can be advanced to dislodge debris within the suction tip, featuring a ball tip to prevent injury and a biasing spring for retraction, allowing for quick unclogging without obstructing suction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a suction tip is used to remove biological debris during surgical procedures, then debris removal capability is improved, but clogging occurs reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The suction tip is divided into multiple functional zones including a suction channel, an ejection wire channel, and a lumen. The ejection wire can be independently advanced through the suction channel to clear clogs, separating the suction function from the clearing function. This segmentation allows the system to maintain debris removal capability while providing a dedicated mechanism to prevent and resolve clogging issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejection wire acts as an intermediary element that can be inserted into the suction channel to dislodge and remove clogging debris. When clogging occurs, the ejection wire is advanced through the suction opening and into the blocked area, mechanically clearing the obstruction. This intermediary component enables the system to recover from clogging without removing the entire suction tip, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving debris removal capability.
2Reliability
If an ejection wire is added to clear clogs, then unclogging capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection wire assembly serves multiple functions: it can be advanced to clear clogs in the suction channel, it can be retracted to a neutral position, and it can be completely removed from the suction tip. The single ejection wire component performs clearing, positioning, and removal functions, reducing the need for additional separate mechanisms and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while improving unclogging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejection wire is designed to be dynamically positionable within the suction channel. It can be advanced on demand to clear clogs, retracted to a neutral position when not in use, and completely removed if needed. This dynamic positioning capability allows the system to maintain simplicity by using a single movable component rather than multiple fixed structures, improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Productivity
If the ejection wire extends beyond the suction opening to dislodge debris, then clearing effectiveness is improved, but risk of tissue injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection wire incorporates a ball tip with a specific diameter that limits how far the wire can extend beyond the suction opening. The ball tip acts as a physical stop, ensuring the wire does not protrude excessively and potentially injure surrounding tissue. This parameter change (ball tip diameter) maintains clearing effectiveness by allowing sufficient wire extension to dislodge debris while preventing harmful over-extension that could cause tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball tip serves as an intermediary element between the ejection wire and the surrounding tissue. Instead of the sharp or rigid wire tip directly contacting tissue, the ball tip interfaces with the tissue first, providing a rounded, less injurious contact point. This intermediary structure allows the wire to effectively clear clogs by extending beyond the suction opening while reducing the risk of tissue injury through its spherical, compliant geometry.
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
Effectively clears clogs in surgical suction tips, ensuring continuous debris removal without interrupting surgical procedures and maintaining sterility.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing spring for returning the ejection wire assembly to its initial position
Implementation Method 2
a suction source... for the removal of debris through suction
Data Source
AI summary
Various forms of anti-clog suction tips apparatus are disclosed. An exemplary anti-clog suction tip apparatus includes a suction tip assembly having a suction tip with a suction opening at a first end thereof for removing debris through suction, a hose attachment portion for attaching the suction tip assembly to a suction source, and an ejection wire channel. The apparatus further includes an ejection wire assembly having an ejection wire extending within the channel and an ejection button integral with or connected to the ejection wire. Applying a force to the ejection button advances the ejection wire through the channel such that an end portion of the ejection wire enters the suction tip and dislodges debris clogging the suction tip. The ejection wire may include an enlarged end portion such as, for example a ball tip. One or more of the components of the apparatus may be single-use and disposable.