Surgical Dilator with Lever-Actuated Blade Tip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cannulation techniques for left ventricular vent cannulation during aortic valve replacement procedures fail to provide clear visibility of the perforation site due to blood buildup, and they do not allow for precise creation of sized perforations in specific locations, leading to potential heart distention and coronary vasculature constriction.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device with a distal housing assembly and blade portion that can be maneuvered through minimally-invasive incisions, featuring a lever-actuated blade tip that displaces between positions to create precise perforations, even in obscured areas, using a non-linear housing axis and slot mechanism to guide the blade, allowing for accurate tissue piercing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If current cannulation techniques are used for left ventricular vent cannulation, then the procedure can be performed, but clear visibility of the perforation site is lost due to blood buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide wire as an intermediary element that extends beyond the distal end of the introducer sheath. This guide wire serves as a visual marker and structural guide that remains visible despite blood buildup, allowing the surgeon to locate the intended perforation site without relying on direct visualization through blood-obscured fields. The guide wire acts as a mediator between the surgeon's intent and the actual perforation location.
2Manufacturing precision
If existing devices are used for cannulation, then the procedure can be completed, but precise control of perforation size and location is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic blade mechanism where the cutting blade can be displaced between a first position (retracted) and a second position (extended) relative to the dilator. This dynamic positioning allows the surgeon to control the extent of tissue engagement by adjusting blade displacement, thereby achieving precise control over perforation size and location while maintaining ease of operation through simple positional changes rather than complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting mechanism is segmented into distinct components: the dilator body, the movable blade portion, and the guide wire. This segmentation allows independent control of each element - the guide wire defines the target location, the dilator provides structural support and access, and the blade creates the perforation. This modular approach enables precise control of perforation characteristics while simplifying the overall operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally-invasive incisions are used, then patient trauma is reduced, but device maneuverability to specific locations is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a nested structure where the guide wire is inserted through the introducer sheath, which in turn is inserted through the minimally-invasive incision. The dilator and blade assembly are then advanced over the guide wire within the introducer sheath. This nested arrangement allows the entire system to pass through a small incision while maintaining the ability to reach deep cardiac structures, thereby reducing patient trauma while preserving device maneuverability.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical device includes a distal housing assembly disposed at a distal end of a shaft, the distal housing assembly including a housing portion extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a non-linear housing axis. The distal housing assembly also includes a blade portion having a blade tip that is configured to cut through tissue. The blade portion is coupled to a lever of the surgical device such that (a) when the lever is in a first lever position, the blade tip is in a first blade position in which the blade tip is disposed proximal to the distal end of the housing portion and (b) when the lever is in a second lever position, the blade tip displaces to a second blade position in which the blade tip is disposed distal to the distal end of the housing portion.