Surgical Guiding Substrate for Precision Incision and Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical incisions made manually can be imprecise, leading to uneven healing and poor scar formation due to varying cut depths and angulations, as well as inadequate approximation and fastening of incision edges.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a guiding substrate and tool carriage that supports surgical tools, allowing for precise guidance along a predetermined path to create controlled incisions and closures, ensuring uniform tension and accurate placement of fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual freehand incision is used, then the surgical procedure can be performed with simple tools, but the incision precision and uniformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A template or guide structure is introduced as an intermediary between the surgeon and the incision process. This template provides pre-marked incision lines and depth indicators, serving as a mediator that translates the surgeon's intent into precise, uniform cuts without requiring complex automated tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The incision path and depth are predetermined and marked on the template before the actual incision is made. This preliminary action allows the surgeon to follow pre-planned guidance lines, ensuring precision and uniformity without needing complex real-time control systems during the incision itself.
2Productivity
If manual freehand incision approximation is used, then the closure process can be performed quickly, but the approximation precision and edge alignment deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The same template used for incision serves as a mediator during closure, providing alignment guides and marking the precise locations where incision edges should meet. This intermediary structure ensures that even during quick manual closure, the edges align precisely with the predetermined incision path.
Solution Approach 2:
The template pre-marks the incision path and closure alignment lines before the procedure begins. During closure, the surgeon simply follows these pre-established guides, allowing for both speed and precision without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If varied pressure is applied to the scalpel blade, then the surgeon can adapt to tissue variations, but the incision depth uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The template includes pre-marked depth indicators and stopping points that are established before the incision begins. These preliminary markings guide the surgeon to apply appropriate pressure at appropriate locations, ensuring uniform depth while still allowing adaptation to tissue variations through the visual feedback provided by the template markers.
Solution Approach 2:
The template provides continuous visual feedback during the incision process through pre-marked guidelines and depth indicators. This feedback mechanism allows the surgeon to adjust pressure in real-time while maintaining uniform depth, as the template shows exactly where the incision should be and how deep it should go at each point.
4Adaptability or versatility
If freehand incision technique is used, then the surgical approach can be flexible, but the incision edge quality and scar formation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The template acts as an intermediary that provides pre-planned optimal incision paths designed to minimize scarring and promote healing. While the surgeon maintains flexibility in performing the procedure, the template ensures that the incision follows geometrically optimal lines that prevent beveling and promote edge quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The optimal incision path is predetermined and marked on the template based on principles of wound healing and scar minimization. This preliminary planning allows the surgeon to execute a flexible surgical procedure while ensuring the incision follows the pre-calculated optimal path for edge quality and cosmetic outcome.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for facilitating access through a substantially planar and laterally oriented patient skin surface includes a guiding substrate extending substantially parallel to the skin surface and selectively directly fastened thereto. The guiding substrate supports a guiding structure in a substantially fixed relationship to an access site of the skin surface. A tool carriage is configured to accept surgical tools for sequential interaction with the access site. The tool carriage engages the guiding structure such that the tool carriage is guided along a predetermined action path when motive force is provided to the tool carriage. The tool carriage is guided along the action path with an incising tool in penetrating contact with the access site of the skin surface to create a laterally elongate incision at the access site. The tool carriage is guided along the action path to substantially close the incision at the access site.