Surgical End Effector Cleaning Base for In-Situ Lens Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive surgical procedures face challenges with visualization instruments becoming blurred, distorted, or obstructed due to debris accumulation, leading to inconvenient instrument removal and reinsertion, causing delays and increased risks of contamination and tissue trauma.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device with a shaft and end effector that provides suction and irrigation, featuring a cleaning base with ports for cleaning the lens of viewing instruments without removing them from the body cavity, allowing for repeated cleanings during procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the scoping device is removed from the body cavity for cleaning, then the lens can be cleaned to restore visualization, but the surgical procedure experiences delays and increases the risk of contamination and tissue trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service cleaning by providing a cleaning mechanism that can be activated through the existing access point without removing the scoping device. The pump delivers cleaning fluid through the scoping device's lumen, and the lens can be manually cleaned at the distal end, allowing the device to clean itself in-situ during the surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
A cleaning fluid acts as an intermediary medium to remove debris from the lens without requiring physical removal of the scoping device. The pump system delivers this cleaning fluid through the lumen to the distal end, enabling contactless cleaning that maintains the device's position and eliminates removal/reinsertion cycles.
2Reliability
If the scoping device is removed from the body cavity for cleaning, then the lens can be cleaned to restore visualization, but the risk of contamination and tissue trauma increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service cleaning by providing a cleaning mechanism that can be activated through the existing access point without removing the scoping device. The pump delivers cleaning fluid through the scoping device's lumen, and the lens can be manually cleaned at the distal end, allowing the device to clean itself in-situ during the surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
A cleaning fluid acts as an intermediary medium to remove debris from the lens without requiring physical removal of the scoping device. The pump system delivers this cleaning fluid through the lumen to the distal end, enabling contactless cleaning that maintains the device's position and eliminates removal/reinsertion cycles.
3Reliability
If the scoping device is reinserted after cleaning, then visualization can be restored, but additional time is required for the surgeon to reorient the device
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service cleaning by providing a cleaning mechanism that can be activated through the existing access point without removing the scoping device. The pump delivers cleaning fluid through the scoping device's lumen, and the lens can be manually cleaned at the distal end, allowing the device to clean itself in-situ during the surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning action is performed preliminarily while the device remains in position, allowing the lens to be cleaned before the next surgical task begins. This eliminates the need for removal and reinsertion, thereby eliminating the reorientation time that would otherwise be required.
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
Enables continuous visualization and reduces the risk of tissue trauma by allowing for in-situ cleaning of instruments, saving time and preventing contamination by eliminating the need for frequent instrument removal and reinsertion.
Implementation Method 1
a pump configured to provide suction through the lumen
Implementation Method 2
The pump can be configured to deliver the irrigation fluid through the lumen
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices are provided for providing suction and/or irrigation to locations within a body cavity. In general, the methods and devices can allow instruments within a body cavity to be cleaned during a surgical procedure without having to remove the instruments from the body cavity. In one embodiment, an end effector is provided that includes an elongate body having a cleaning base formed thereon. The end effector can be configured as a modular element configured to be removably and replaceably attachable to a distal end of an elongate shaft. The cleaning base can have one or more ports formed through a surface thereof. The cleaning base can be configured to provide suction and/or irrigation through the one or more ports to clean a face of a surgical instrument seated in the cleaning base or in close proximity to the cleaning base.