Surgical Stabilizer with Dual-Material Flex-Rigid Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive surgical procedures face challenges in maintaining the position, orientation, and stability of surgical instruments within the body, particularly in accessing spinal and neurosurgical sites without causing damage to vital tissues.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument stabilizer is designed with a flexible and malleable material configuration that conforms to non-uniform body surfaces, allowing for both flexible and rigid support of surgical instruments, such as retractor tubes and drill guides, to maintain precise positioning and orientation during procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid support structure is used to stabilize the surgical instrument, then instrument stability is improved, but adaptability to non-uniform body surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer is designed with a two-material construction where the first material (e.g., silicone rubber) provides flexible adaptation to non-uniform body surfaces, while the second material (e.g., rigid polymer or metal) provides rigid support for the surgical instrument. This dynamic combination allows the device to simultaneously conform to irregular anatomical surfaces and maintain stable instrument positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizer employs composite materials consisting of a flexible first material and a rigid second material. The flexible material portion contacts and adapts to the body surface, while the rigid material portion provides structural support for the instrument. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between adaptability and stability by assigning different functional properties to different material components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible support structure is used to conform to body surfaces, then adaptability is improved, but instrument stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer transitions from a purely flexible state to a stabilized state through the interaction between the two materials. The flexible first material conforms to the body surface, while the rigid second material provides the necessary structural support to prevent instrument movement, achieving both adaptability and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
By combining flexible and rigid materials in a single stabilizer structure, the device achieves surface conformance through the flexible material while the rigid material component ensures instrument stability, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
3Reliability
If a complex multi-component stabilizer is used to provide both flexible and rigid support, then performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer merges the flexible first material and the rigid second material into a single integrated device structure. This unified design provides both flexible conformance and rigid support functions within one component, reducing the need for multiple separate parts while maintaining reliable performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite material construction allows the stabilizer to provide multiple functions (flexible adaptation and rigid support) within a single integrated structure, avoiding the complexity of assembling multiple separate components while achieving reliable dual-function performance.
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 stabilizer minimizes instrument movement, facilitates precise surgical access, and supports various surgical approaches, enhancing the efficacy of minimally invasive spinal and neurosurgical procedures while reducing tissue trauma and recovery time.
Implementation Method 1
The first material includes a wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a first cavity configured for disposal of the second material. The outer surface defines an outer portion, a lateral portion and an inner portion. At least a portion of the lateral portion is configured to flexibly conform to a patient body surface.
Implementation Method 2
The inner portion is disposable between a first configuration such that the inner portion flexibly supports the instrument and a second configuration such that the inner portion rigidly supports the instrument.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument stabilizer includes a body having a first material and a second material. The first material includes a wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a first cavity configured for disposal of the second material. The outer surface defines an outer portion, a lateral portion and an inner portion. At least a portion of the lateral portion is configured to flexibly conform to a patient body surface. The inner portion defines a second cavity for disposal of an instrument and is configured to engage an outer surface of the instrument. Methods of use are disclosed.