Surgical Instrument Separator Mechanism for Clean Sheath Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments used in spinal surgery, such as pedicle screws, often result in harmful splintering and tissue damage due to the breaking off of extension pieces, which increases the risk of infection and requires significant effort and levering motions.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a separator mechanism, featuring a curved cutting edge or lip, is designed to provide a smooth and angle-free breaking point, allowing for easy separation of the introducer sheath from the medical device without splintering, using a screwing device or handle-activated rotation to execute the separation at a pre-defined breaking point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the extension is broken off by levering motions using additional instruments, then the extension can be separated from the implant, but harmful chips and splinters are generated that increase infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
A pre-determined breaking point is created in advance during manufacturing, allowing the extension to be separated cleanly without levering motions. The breaking point includes a separation zone with reduced material thickness that enables effortless separation while preventing harmful splintering.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful breaking process is extracted and replaced by a controlled separation mechanism. The separation zone is designed to fail in a controlled manner, removing the need for additional instruments and levering motions that cause tissue damage and infection risk.
2Ease of operation
If the extension is broken off by levering motions, then the extension can be separated from the implant, but surrounding tissue is crushed or distended
Solution Approach 1:
The breaking point is pre-formed during manufacturing with a specific geometry that directs separation away from surrounding tissue. The separation zone is positioned and shaped to ensure clean separation without contact with or damage to adjacent anatomical structures.
3Ease of operation
If additional instruments are used to break off the extension, then the extension can be separated, but the procedure requires significant effort and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The need for additional breaking instruments is eliminated by integrating the breaking function into the implant itself. The pre-determined breaking point with separation zone allows the extension to be separated using only the implant components, simplifying the surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant is designed to be self-breaking through its pre-determined breaking point. The separation zone is engineered to fail under minimal force, allowing the extension to separate from the implant body without requiring external breaking tools or complex maneuvers.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The instrument enables clean and effortless separation of the introducer sheath from the medical device, minimizing tissue damage and infection risk while reducing the effort required for the procedure.
Implementation Method 1
The separator can be either a lip or cam... The separator is preferably configured at least partially with a curve, wherein it can have a cutting edge.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly may include a medical device, an introducer sheath connected to the medical device, and a surgical instrument. The medical device may include a cage, a screw, a bone screw, a pedicle screw, and/or an implant. The introducer sheath may be connected to the medical device at a pre-determined breaking point. The introducer sheath may be hollow. The surgical instrument may comprise an extension. The extension may be configured to be inserted into the introducer sheath. The surgical instrument may comprise a pin. The surgical instrument may comprise a separator. The separator may be configured for breaking off the introducer sheath from the medical device at the pre-determined breaking point by rotating the extension about a longitudinal axis of the extension. A part of the medical device may be configured serve as a counter bearing to the rotation by accommodating the pin during rotation.