Surgical Shaft With Rotating Tubes For Minimally Invasive Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Minimally invasive surgical instruments face challenges in accessing confined body cavities like the knee or ankle joint due to limited manipulation possibilities, leading to extended operation times, risk of damaging healthy tissues, bacterial introduction, and surgeon fatigue, primarily because of poor instrument maneuverability.

Innovation Solution

A surgical device with a shaft comprising an outer and inner tube that rotate oppositely, converting this rotational movement into longitudinal movement of inserts, allowing precise tissue cutting without instrument exchanges, and providing a stiff support for the surgical instrument, along with angled slits and protrusions for accurate positioning and easy instrument replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If known surgical instruments are used in confined body cavities, then access to pathology site is limited, but operation time extends due to frequent instrument exchanges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstrument maneuverabilityVSAvoidoperation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical device employs a dynamic manipulation mechanism where the insert can be moved longitudinally within the shaft, and the surgical instrument can be rotated and angled relative to the shaft axis. This dynamic positioning capability allows the instrument tip to reach various tissue locations without removing and reinserting the instrument, thereby reducing operation time while maintaining ease of maneuverability in confined spaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical device is segmented into distinct functional components: the shaft, the movable insert, and the surgical instrument mounted on the insert. This segmentation allows independent movement and positioning of each component, enabling the instrument to access confined areas through coordinated movements without requiring complete instrument exchange, thus addressing both maneuverability and time efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If surgeons apply strong force to reach pathologic area, then access to deep tissue is improved, but healthy tissues are damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess capabilityVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic positioning system allows surgeons to precisely control the instrument tip location by moving the insert longitudinally and rotating the instrument, enabling access to deep pathologic areas through controlled incremental movements rather than forceful insertion, thereby avoiding damage to healthy tissues while maintaining access capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If frequent instrument exchanges are performed, then complete tissue cutting is achieved, but bacterial introduction risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue cutting efficiencyVSAvoidbacterial contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical device enables continuous tissue cutting by allowing the surgical instrument to remain inserted while the insert and instrument are repositioned to access different tissue locations. This continuous action eliminates the interruptions and instrument exchanges that would otherwise create opportunities for bacterial contamination, while maintaining productive tissue cutting capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Ease of operation

If blind instrument insertion is performed, then access to deep cavities is achieved, but tissue damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess depthVSAvoidblind insertion damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic manipulation capabilities including longitudinal insert movement, instrument rotation, and angling allow surgeons to visually guide the instrument tip to the target location through controlled movements, eliminating blind insertion while achieving access to deep cavities and reducing the risk of damaging healthy tissues during insertion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This design enhances surgical precision and efficiency by maintaining continuous instrument visibility and avoiding instrument exchanges, reducing operation time, minimizing tissue damage, and improving surgeon safety and comfort.

Implementation Method 1

the inserts are coupled to the outer tube and the inner tube so as to convert rotational movement of said tubes into longitudinal movement of the inserts

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical coupling:

Data Source

PatentUS10064640B2Surgical device, in particular for minimally invasive surgery

Publication Date: 2018.09.04 TECH UNIV DELFT

AI summary

A surgical device with a shaft having a distal end to which a surgical instrument is mountable and a proximal end equipped for handling the instrument, wherein the shaft is hollow and the surgical instrument is mountable on inserts that are longitudinally movable in the shaft parallel to the longitudinal axis and that are diametrically opposed to each other. The shaft comprises outer and inner tubes rotatable in opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the inserts are coupled to the outer and inner tubes to convert rotational movement of the tubes into longitudinal movement of the inserts.