Minimally Invasive Surgical Cutter With Buffer Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing minimally invasive surgical techniques are inadequate for effectively removing joint protrusions or crystallized materials from cartilage, leading to damage and limited self-repair capabilities due to excessive cutting force and inability to tilt cutting tools along the surface.
Innovation Solution
A minimally invasive surgical device comprising a main body with an inner and outer tube, a buffer assembly with an elastic member and universal joint, and a cutter bit that reduces cutting force and allows tilting, enabling effective removal of joint protrusions or crystallized materials while minimizing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing endoscopic resection is used, then the surgical procedure can be performed minimally invasively, but it cannot effectively remove joint protrusions or crystallized materials and causes damage to cartilage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the cutting tool by introducing a buffer assembly with elastic members that can dynamically adjust the cutting force. The buffer assembly includes springs or elastomers that absorb excess force, allowing the cutter bit to maintain consistent contact with cartilage surfaces while preventing forceful impacts that could damage healthy tissue. This parameter adjustment enables effective removal of protrusions and crystallized materials without causing harmful damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting tool is made dynamic through the buffer assembly, which allows the cutter bit to move independently relative to the inner tube. The elastic members enable the cutter bit to adapt its position and apply force dynamically during the cutting process, rather than maintaining a fixed rigid connection. This dynamic capability allows the tool to effectively engage with varying cartilage surfaces and remove pathological materials while protecting healthy tissue.
2Force
If a rigid cutting tool is used, then the cutting force can be maintained, but the tool cannot tilt along the surface of the object
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer assembly creates a dynamic connection between the inner tube and cutter bit, allowing the cutter bit to tilt and adjust its orientation along the surface of the cartilage while maintaining cutting force through the elastic members. The universal joint or spherical connection enables multi-directional movement, providing adaptability to various surface geometries.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the rigid inner tube and the cutter bit. It transmits cutting force from the motor while simultaneously allowing tilting movements through its elastic and joint components. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by providing both force transmission and movement freedom.
3Device complexity
If a rigid connection between inner tube and cutter bit is used, then the structure is simple, but the cutter bit cannot move relatively to reduce cutting force
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the inner tube and cutter bit is segmented into multiple functional components: the buffer assembly with elastic members and the universal joint. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function - the elastic members control force, the joint enables tilting, and the modular structure maintains relative simplicity while achieving reliable cutting force control.
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 device reduces cutting force and allows the cutter bit to be tilted along the surface, effectively removing joint protrusions or crystallized materials, thereby minimizing damage and enhancing surgical precision and efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
the buffer assembly includes an elastic member connected between the inner tube and the cutter bit
Implementation Method 2
the universal joint includes a first connection member and a second connection member, the first connection member has a convex spherical surface, the second connection member has a concave spherical surface and is movably connected to the convex spherical surface through the concave spherical surface
Data Source
AI summary
A minimally invasive surgical device includes a main body, a buffer assembly and a cutter bit. The main body includes an inner tube and an outer tube, wherein the inner tube is disposed in the outer tube. An end of the buffer assembly is connected to the inner tube. The cutter bit is connected to another end of the buffer assembly, wherein the cutter bit has a cutting portion. When the cutting portion is in contact with an object, the buffer assembly is adapted to enable the cutter bit to move relatively to the inner tube to decrease a cutting force between the cutting portion and the object, and is adapted to enable the cutting portion to be tilted with a surface of the object.