Surgical Tissue Protector for Hip Arthroscopy

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Solution Overview

Problem

During hip arthroscopy procedures, there is a risk of damaging healthy tissue due to the limited line of sight of the camera, which can lead to mishandling of sharp instruments and potential damage to cartilage on the femoral head or acetabulum.

Innovation Solution

A surgical device with a guiding instrument and a protector made of protective material that can be advanced to a protection state using an actuator, allowing it to cover and protect healthy tissue from damage during the procedure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If direct visualization is used during hip arthroscopy, then the surgeon can directly see and protect healthy tissue, but the minimally invasive nature of the procedure is compromised and access to the joint space becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverisk of damaging healthy tissueVSAvoidaccess to joint space

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A protector device is introduced as an intermediary element between the surgical instruments and the healthy tissue. The protector can be positioned on the femoral head or acetabulum to physically shield healthy cartilage from potential damage by sharp instruments, while still allowing the arthroscopic procedure to proceed through small incisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The protector is deployed in advance before the actual tissue-requiring procedures are performed. By pre-positioning the protective barrier on the femoral head or acetabulum, the system ensures healthy tissue is protected before any cutting or damaging procedures occur, rather than attempting to react to potential damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the camera's limited line of sight is used to guide instruments, then the minimally invasive approach is maintained, but the risk of mishandling sharp instruments increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveminimally invasive procedureVSAvoidinstrument handling safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protector acts as a cushioning barrier that is in place before any potential instrument mishandling can occur. Even if the surgeon loses visual contact with healthy tissue through the camera's limited field of view, the protector provides a physical safety margin that prevents direct contact between instruments and vulnerable cartilage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a protector device is added to the surgical system, then healthy tissue protection is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue damage riskVSAvoidsurgical device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protector is designed as a thin, flexible shell or film that can conform to the curved surfaces of the femoral head or acetabulum. This design maintains simplicity by using a single-layer structure without complex mechanisms, while still providing effective protection. The flexible nature allows it to be easily positioned and removed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The protector design can be applied to multiple locations (femoral head or acetabulum) and works with various surgical instruments, making it a universal protective solution. The same basic design principle can protect different anatomical structures, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9801692B2Instrument deployed tissue protector

Publication Date: 2017.10.31 BIOMET MFG LLC

AI summary

A surgical device includes a guiding instrument; a protector comprised of a protective material held in a non-protecting state by the guiding instrument and having a protection state; and an actuator connected to the protector that is configured to advance the protector along the guiding instrument such that the protector is allowed to assume the protection state.