Surgical Dissector With Cauterization And Dissection

Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical procedures, particularly reconstructive flap surgery, require multiple instruments, leading to increased time and risk of complications due to instrument swapping during surgery.

Innovation Solution

A surgical dissector instrument with pivotably connected arms, each featuring a handle, tooth formation with smooth, planar, and opposable contact surfaces that can conduct electricity for cauterization and bisect blood vessels, reducing the need for multiple instruments by integrating cauterization and dissection functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple surgical instruments are used for dissection and cauterization, then the surgical procedure can be performed with specialized tools for each function, but the surgical time increases and the risk of complications increases due to instrument swapping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverisk of complicationsVSAvoidsurgical time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines dissection and cauterization functions into a single surgical instrument. The dissector includes a blade edge for cutting tissue and a cauterization element that can be activated to seal blood vessels, eliminating the need to switch between separate dissection and cauterization instruments during surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical dissector is designed as a multi-functional instrument that can perform multiple surgical tasks including tissue dissection, vessel sealing, and hemostasis. The instrument features a blade for cutting and a cauterization element for sealing, allowing one instrument to replace multiple specialized tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If multiple surgical instruments are used for dissection and cauterization, then each function can be performed with optimized specialized tools, but the number of instruments required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstrument specializationVSAvoidnumber of instruments

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines dissection and cauterization functions into a single surgical instrument. The dissector includes a blade edge for cutting tissue and a cauterization element that can be activated to seal blood vessels, eliminating the need to switch between separate dissection and cauterization instruments during surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical dissector is designed as a multi-functional instrument that can perform multiple surgical tasks including tissue dissection, vessel sealing, and hemostasis. The instrument features a blade for cutting and a cauterization element for sealing, allowing one instrument to replace multiple specialized tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the contact surfaces have larger contact area for cauterization, then blood vessels can be effectively sealed, but tissue adherence to the instrument increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flow cessationVSAvoidtissue adherence

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cauterization element features a contact surface with specific local properties - a larger contact area for effective vessel sealing combined with a non-stick coating or surface treatment. This allows the surface to provide sufficient thermal contact for sealing blood vessels while preventing tissue from adhering to the instrument during the cauterization process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 instrument allows for efficient dissection and cauterization of blood vessels in a single action, reducing surgical time and minimizing complications by reducing the number of instruments required, while ensuring effective blood flow cessation and minimizing tissue adherence.

Implementation Method 1

each arm further includes a conductor extending from a proximal end of the handle, or from another suitable location, to the mutually opposable contact surfaces so that current can flow from the proximal end of the handle, or from the another suitable location, of one of the arms along that arm to its mutually opposable contact surface and electrically arc to the mutually opposable contact surface of the other arm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

current can flow from the proximal end of the handle, or from the another suitable location, of one of the arms along that arm to its mutually opposable contact surface and electrically arc to the mutually opposable contact surface of the other arm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical arcing: Electric Arc

Implementation Method 3

the mutually opposable contact surfaces are able to cauterise a blood vessel or other body tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20230047758A1Surgical dissector instrument

Publication Date: 2023.02.16 GRINSELL DAMIEN

AI summary

Provided is a surgical dissector instrument including a pair of arms pivotably connected intermediate their ends, with each arm having a handle at one end, and a tooth formation at the other, wherein the tooth formations are mutually opposable and asymmetrical in profile.