Surgical Retractor with Dual-Stage Angular Adjustment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical retraction systems lack versatility in angular adjustment, limiting their effectiveness as they cannot be quickly grossly positioned and then finely tuned, which is crucial for various surgical procedures and patient sizes.
Innovation Solution
A surgical retraction apparatus with a handle rod clamped to a surgical table, featuring a pivoting head and interchangeable retractor blades, utilizing a gross adjustment clamp and a fine-tuning mechanism to allow for precise angular positioning of the retractor blade relative to the anatomy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single type of angular adjustment mechanism is used, then the device structure is simple, but the adaptability and versatility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two distinct adjustment mechanisms (gross adjustment mechanism and fine adjustment mechanism) into a single integrated system. The gross adjustment mechanism provides large-angle positioning while the fine adjustment mechanism enables precise angular tuning, together resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity by merging complementary functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractor device is designed with multi-functional adjustment capabilities that can accommodate various surgical scenarios and patient sizes. The dual-mechanism system provides both coarse positioning and fine-tuning functions, making the device universally applicable across different surgical procedures while managing complexity through functional integration.
2Ease of operation
If angular adjustment is limited to a single mechanism, then the device complexity is low, but the ease of operation for both gross positioning and fine tuning is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment system is segmented into two distinct functional components: a gross adjustment mechanism for rapid large-angle positioning and a fine adjustment mechanism for precise angular tuning. This segmentation allows each mechanism to be optimized for its specific function, improving overall ease of operation while keeping individual mechanism complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment system incorporates dynamic characteristics with the gross adjustment mechanism enabling quick repositioning and the fine adjustment mechanism allowing continuous angular tuning. This dynamic design improves ease of operation by providing appropriate adjustment speed and precision for different surgical needs without requiring overly complex mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A physical retractor apparatus and method for retracting anatomy during surgery wherein the apparatus includes a handle rod, a body portion, a retractor blade and a mechanism which allows the retractor blade to be angularly adjusted, and secured, to one of any number of angular positions. The retractor blade may be first manually positioned to a gross angular position and thereafter fine tuned in angular position. The adjustment mechanism includes a pair of arms forced together to contract about a pivot pin to set an angular position and a threaded screw device which is rotatable to adjust further the angular position.