Thin Gauge Surgical Probe with Retractable Reinforcing Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vitreoretinal surgical instruments require large scleral incisions that are difficult to self-seal, necessitating suturing and are prone to bending due to their thin gauge size, which complicates the procedure and increases the risk of injury during manipulation within tight spaces.
Innovation Solution
A thin gauge surgical probe with a retractable reinforcing sleeve and a removably attached trocar cannula that acts as a stiffening device to resist bending, allowing for easier insertion and manipulation within the eye without the need for sutures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If thin gauge instruments (23 or 25 gauge) are used to minimize incision size and enable self-sealing, then the incision size is reduced and suturing is eliminated, but the instruments become prone to bending and are difficult to manipulate within tight spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is divided into two functional parts: a thin gauge cannula for insertion and a reinforcing sleeve for structural support. The reinforcing sleeve can be selectively deployed or removed, allowing the instrument to transition between a flexible insertion state and a rigid manipulation state, thus resolving the contradiction between thin gauge size and bending resistance
Solution Approach 2:
A removable reinforcing sleeve acts as an intermediary element that provides temporary structural support during manipulation. The sleeve is inserted through the thin gauge cannula and can be advanced or retracted as needed, providing bending resistance only when required while maintaining the thin profile during insertion
2Strength
If large scleral incisions are made to accommodate 19 or 20 gauge instruments, then the instruments have sufficient structural strength and ease of manipulation, but the incisions are too large to self-seal and require suturing
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument incorporates a dynamic reinforcing sleeve that can be deployed or removed based on operational needs. During insertion, the sleeve is retracted to allow flexible passage through the small self-sealing incision. During manipulation, the sleeve can be advanced to provide the necessary structural rigidity, eliminating the need for large incisions and sutures
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A thin gauge surgical probe (10) is provided having a retractable reinforcing sleeve (22). When the probe is inserted into the eye, through the trocar cannula (28), the trocar cannula becomes removably attached to the distal end of the sleeve is a trocar cannula, and acts as a stiffening device.