Surgical Probe with Segmented Cutting Teeth for Hard Tissue Resection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tissue resecting instruments struggle to effectively pierce and shear hard tissues due to inadequate sharpness of cutting edges, leading to inefficiencies in surgical procedures such as myomectomies and arthroscopies.
Innovation Solution
A motor-driven surgical probe with co-axial outer and inner sleeves featuring cutting windows with exceptionally sharp teeth, where the inner sleeve's needle-like tip pierces and grips tissue, and the lateral and base cutting edges shear the tissue as it rotates past the outer sleeve's cutting edges, enhancing tissue engagement and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cutting edges are used, then the device structure is simple, but the ability to pierce and shear hard tissues is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting edge is segmented into multiple teeth with distinct functional zones: needle-like tip portions for piercing, lateral portions for gripping, and base portions for shearing. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and effective cutting of hard tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the cutting edge are given different local qualities: the tip portions are made needle-like with acute angles for piercing, while the lateral and base portions have configurations optimized for gripping and shearing. This local differentiation enables the single cutting edge to handle multiple cutting tasks effectively.
2Reliability
If the needle-like tip portion angle is reduced to less than 44 degrees, then tissue piercing capability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise angular parameters for the needle-like tip portion (less than 44 degrees) and provides corresponding height dimensions (at least 0.010 inches). By defining both angular and dimensional parameters, the patent balances piercing effectiveness with manufacturability, allowing precision to be achieved through multiple measurable characteristics rather than a single difficult-to-control angle.
3Reliability
If the height of needle-like tip portion is increased to at least 0.010 inches, then tissue gripping capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tooth is segmented into distinct functional portions (tip, lateral, base) with specific height requirements. The needle-like tip portion has a minimum height of 0.010 inches, while the lateral and base portions have additional height requirements (at least 0.025 inches for lateral, at least 0.020 inches for base). This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall manageability.
Data Source
AI summary
Instruments and methods for resecting tissue from the interior of a patient's body with a motor-driven rotating tubular cutter.