Surgical Device Curved Plug Channels for MIS Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive surgical (MIS) instruments face challenges in navigating curved anatomical pathways due to their rigid design, limiting their application in complex procedures, and existing flexible endoscopes lack stability and control, making them difficult to use in procedures like NOTES and SILS.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device with a delivery portion and an active portion connected by a plug, featuring curved instrument channels that diverge to provide necessary triangulation, allowing for flexible and stable instrument deployment with interchangeable channels and integrated vision/imaging, and actuated by tendons and motors for precise movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If rigid shaft instruments with roll-pitch-yaw mechanism are used, then three degrees of rotational movements are provided to the end-effector, but the instruments are difficult to operate and cannot follow curved anatomical pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument shaft is divided into multiple rigid segments connected by flexible joints, allowing the instrument to follow curved anatomical pathways while maintaining structural integrity and controllability at each segment
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument incorporates curved or articulated shaft designs that can bend and flex to navigate curved anatomical pathways, transitioning from rigid straight shafts to flexible curved configurations
2Adaptability or versatility
If flexible endoscopes are used to navigate curved pathways, then access to curved anatomical pathways is improved, but the instruments lack stability and control
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument incorporates dynamic stabilization mechanisms that actively adjust and maintain the position and orientation of the instrument tip, providing real-time control and stability compensation during navigation through curved pathways
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument uses flexible shafts with controlled flexibility that can bend to navigate curved pathways while incorporating internal structural elements that maintain sufficient rigidity and stability for precise positioning and operation
3Length of moving object
If long rigid instruments are used for MIS, then the fulcrum effect is utilized, but the instruments require counter-intuitive movements and reduce ergonomic naturalness
Solution Approach 1:
The long instrument shaft is segmented into multiple controllable sections, allowing the surgeon to manipulate each segment independently or in coordination, transforming counter-intuitive whole-shaft movements into more intuitive segmental control
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument incorporates additional degrees of freedom and articulation points that allow movements in multiple dimensions, enabling the surgeon to achieve desired tip positions through more natural hand movements rather than counter-intuitive planar movements
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical device having a distal end and a proximal end, and comprising a delivery portion extending from the proximal end and comprising first and second instrument delivery channels, an active portion at a distal portion of the device and a plug having a proximal end and a distal end, and engageable with the delivery portion at its proximal end, and with the active portion at its distal end, the plug comprising first and second plug channels each defining a curved path, such that the plug channels diverge from one another towards the distal end of the plug wherein when the plug is engaged with the delivery portion the first plug channel and the first instrument delivery channel form a first instrument channel and the second plug channel and the second instrument delivery channel form a second instrument channel.