Surgical Cannula Stabilizer with Ball and Socket Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional kyphoplasty procedures face challenges in stabilizing the cannula during the delivery of an inflatable bone tamp or bone void filler, as there is often insufficient soft tissue or bony anatomy to maintain the cannula's proper orientation, leading to difficulties in accurately positioning the device at the bone defect or void.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system featuring a device with a ball and socket design, where a cap engages a collet to rigidly hold the cannula, allowing it to be maintained at a fixed angle, thereby preventing misplacement and stabilizing the cannula relative to the surgical site, facilitating precise delivery of the inflatable bone tamp or bone void filler.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cannula is held manually by a physician or assistant during kyphoplasty procedure, then the procedure can be performed with simple equipment, but the cannula cannot be stabilized properly due to insufficient soft tissue or bony anatomy to maintain its orientation
Solution Approach 1:
A stabilizing device acts as an intermediary between the cannula and the surrounding tissue, providing mechanical support and maintaining cannula orientation. The device includes a body with a stabilizing surface that contacts adjacent bone or tissue, and a cannula holder that secures the cannula in a fixed trajectory, thereby mediating the connection between the cannula and the anatomical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing device extends in multiple dimensions beyond the cannula axis, with a stabilizing surface that projects laterally to contact adjacent bone or tissue. This dimensional extension provides additional contact points and geometric constraints that prevent cannula migration or rotation, solving the stabilization problem by adding spatial dimensions to the support structure.
2Device complexity
If the cannula is positioned without a stabilizing device, then the device complexity is reduced, but the positioning precision and accuracy of bone filler delivery deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizing device is positioned and secured to adjacent bone or tissue before the cannula is fully inserted or before bone filler delivery begins. The cannula holder is pre-configured with the desired trajectory, and the stabilizing surface is placed against the bone to establish the correct orientation in advance, ensuring accurate positioning before the critical delivery step.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical holding by a physician or assistant is replaced with a dedicated mechanical stabilizing device that uses geometric constraints, friction, or mechanical interlocking to maintain cannula position. The device substitutes human manual control with a purpose-built mechanical system designed to maintain precise trajectory without requiring continuous manual adjustment.
3Reliability
If additional assistance is provided to hold the cannula, then the cannula can be stabilized, but the procedure requires multiple practitioners and increases operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizing device is self-retaining and self-stabilizing, requiring no additional personnel to hold or adjust the cannula during the procedure. Once positioned, the device maintains cannula stability through its own mechanical design features such as friction surfaces, interlocking components, or geometric constraints, thereby serving itself rather than requiring external assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of cannula holding, trajectory maintenance, and stabilization are merged into a single integrated device rather than requiring separate instruments or personnel for each function. The stabilizing device combines the support structure, positioning mechanism, and cannula securing features into one unified system that performs multiple functions simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for holding a surgical tool includes a first member extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. The first end includes an inner surface defining a conduit extending transverse to the longitudinal axis. The conduit includes a first portion and a second portion defining a first chamber. A cap has an inner surface including a first section configured to engage an outer surface of the first member and a second section defining a second chamber extending transverse to the longitudinal axis. The second chamber is in communication with the first chamber when the cap engages the first member such that the first and second chambers define a cavity. A pivoting member is movably disposed in the cavity and includes an inner surface defining a passageway. A second member is disposed within the passageway. Methods of use are disclosed.