Anti-clog Suction Tip with Ejection Wire Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical suction tips often clog with biological debris, such as blood and tissue, which hampers their effectiveness during procedures and requires frequent clearing, disrupting the surgical process.
Innovation Solution
An anti-clog suction tip apparatus featuring an ejection wire assembly with a ball tip that can be advanced through a channel to dislodge debris from the suction tip, utilizing a biasing spring and handle-mounted ejection tab to facilitate easy operation and minimize obstruction during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional suction tip is used to remove biological debris, then debris can be suctioned from the surgical site, but the suction tip frequently clogs with blood and tissue requiring interruption for clearing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the clogging problem by providing a separate ejection wire assembly that can be independently activated to remove debris from the suction tip. The ejection wire is a distinct component that can be advanced through the suction tip to dislodge and eject clogged material, separating the suction function from the clearing function and allowing continuous operation without interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction tip apparatus performs self-clearing through the integrated ejection wire mechanism. When debris clogs the suction tip, the operator can activate the ejection wire through the ejection tab to automatically dislodge and eject the clogged material from the suction tip, allowing the system to restore its own functionality without requiring removal or replacement of the entire suction tip assembly.
2Reliability
If the ejection wire is advanced to clear debris, then clogging is removed, but the ejection mechanism may obstruct the surgical field or require complex operation
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection tab serves as an intermediary mechanism that translates simple operator input into the complex action of advancing the ejection wire through the suction tip. By providing an externally accessible tab that can be easily manipulated, the system mediates between the operator's simple pressing motion and the internal wire advancement mechanism, making the clearing operation intuitive and easy to perform without requiring complex manual manipulation of the wire itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejection wire is routed through a channel that extends along the longitudinal axis of the suction tip, utilizing the length dimension of the apparatus to guide the wire from the proximal end through to the distal end. This dimensional routing allows the ejection mechanism to be operated from the handle while the wire tip reaches the suction opening at the far end, enabling clear operation without obstructing the surgical field.
3Ease of operation
If the ejection wire extends beyond the suction opening to dislodge debris, then effective clearing is achieved, but the wire may extend too far and cause damage or obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing spring is pre-loaded in a compressed state between the ejection tab and the outer member, creating a preliminary counteracting force that controls the ejection wire's advancement. This pre-compressed spring provides a built-in limiting mechanism that prevents the wire from extending beyond the necessary distance by automatically engaging with the outer member when the wire reaches the appropriate position, thereby preventing over-extension and potential damage before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing spring changes the mechanical parameter of the ejection wire's movement by providing a progressive resistance force as the wire advances. The spring's elastic properties transform the operator's input force into a controlled, progressive advancement of the wire, ensuring that the wire extends only to the necessary degree to clear debris from the suction opening without extending excessively and causing harm.
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 solution effectively prevents clogging by allowing for quick and controlled removal of debris, maintaining suction efficiency and reducing the need for frequent tool intervention during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing spring. In a variation, the outer member is threaded. In another variation, the biasing spring biases the ejection tab away from the outer member.
Data Source
AI summary
An anti-clog suction tip apparatus includes a suction tip having a suction opening and an interior defining a suction channel. An ejection wire channel extends to a wire exit opening into the suction channel that is located proximate the suction opening. An ejection wire including a ball tip at an end thereof occupies the ejection wire channel and is transitionable between a retracted configuration and an advanced configuration such that, in the retracted configuration, the ejection wire including the ball tip is retained within the ejection wire channel and does not obstruct suctioning of debris through the suction channel; and in the advanced configuration, the ball tip of the ejection wire does not extend more than three millimeters beyond the suction opening.