Handheld Surgical Probe and Blade for Obstructed Tissue Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cutting tools require direct visual or physical access to the target object, limiting their effectiveness when the target is obstructed, and there is a lack of handheld devices for accurately and specifically cutting objects that are not in plain sight.
Innovation Solution
A handheld apparatus with a deployable probe and blade that can be selectively moved between retracted and extended positions, allowing for precise targeting and cutting of obstructed objects, particularly designed for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures like carpal tunnel release surgery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a general cutting tool is used for a particular purpose, then the tool can be adapted for that purpose, but direct visual or physical access to the target object is still required
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting tool is divided into separate functional segments: a probe component for locating and identifying the target object, and a blade component for cutting. These segments can be independently deployed and retracted, allowing the user to first locate the target without exposing the cutting blade, thereby eliminating the need for direct visual access while maintaining cutting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe and blade are made dynamically deployable and retractable through manual controls. The probe can be extended to locate and identify obstructed targets, then retracted before blade extension. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt between exploration mode (probe only) and cutting mode (blade only), resolving the contradiction between adaptability and direct access requirement.
2Measurement precision
If the probe is extended to locate the target, then the target can be identified, but the blade may accidentally cut surrounding tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is extended and used to locate and identify the target anatomical structure before the blade is activated. This preliminary action allows precise target acquisition and identification while keeping the cutting blade retracted and inactive, preventing accidental cutting of surrounding tissues during the location phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade is made dynamically controllable, remaining retracted during probe extension for target location, and only extending when the user intentionally activates it after successful target identification. This dynamic control sequence ensures that the blade never exposes surrounding tissues to cutting risk during the probing phase.
3Measurement precision
If image-guided surgical instruments are used, then precise cutting can be achieved, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The probe provides tactile feedback and direct physical contact with the target anatomical structure, allowing the surgeon to identify and locate targets through hand sensation alone. This self-service approach eliminates the need for expensive image-guided instruments by using the surgeon's own senses and the probe's tactile capabilities to achieve precise target acquisition and cutting guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe acts as an intermediary between the surgeon's hand and the target anatomical structure, transmitting tactile sensations and allowing direct physical interaction. This intermediary mechanism replaces expensive image-guided systems with a simple, cost-effective tactile feedback interface that achieves comparable or superior precision for many surgical tasks.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus with a deployable blade for probing and cutting can include an elongate member having a probe and a blade associated with a first end thereof. The probe can include a target interaction surface that is selectively movable between a retracted state and a target acquisition state. The blade includes a cutting edge and is selectively movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The handheld apparatus may additionally include a manually operated control that is operably connected to the probe and/or the blade to cause the retraction/extension of the probe and/or blade.