Surgical Tunneling Device with Interchangeable Handle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical tunneling procedures for implanting heart pumps, such as LVADs, involve high forces that cause tissue trauma, infection risk, and extended recovery times due to the need for invasive procedures and non-adaptable tunneling tools.
Innovation Solution
A surgical tunneling device with a malleable member and interchangeable handle that facilitates easy insertion and manipulation in subcutaneous tissue, adaptable for various procedures, minimizing tissue stress and infection risk, featuring removable tips and a coupler for secure cable attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tunneling channel is made smaller to minimize infection risk and provide secure mechanical attachment, then the electrical connector can be securely attached, but the force required to pull the electrical cable through the body increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into three main segments: a malleable member for creating the tunnel, a coupler for connecting the cable, and an electrical connector for external connection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the malleable member can be sized appropriately for tissue penetration while the connector can be sized for secure attachment without requiring the entire assembly to pass through a small tunnel simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The coupler acts as an intermediary component between the malleable member and the electrical connector. It provides a mechanical interface that allows the cable to be securely attached while distributing the pulling forces, reducing the stress on any single component and minimizing tissue trauma during cable retrieval
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional tunneling tools are used, then the procedure can be completed, but the tools are not adaptable to different tunneling procedures (inside-out or outside-in) and require complex manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The malleable member is designed with universal functionality to work with both inside-out and outside-in tunneling procedures. Its flexible, elongate structure allows it to be inserted and manipulated regardless of the direction of tunnel creation, eliminating the need for procedure-specific tools and simplifying the surgical workflow
Solution Approach 2:
The malleable member is constructed from a flexible material that allows it to dynamically adapt to the tissue path being created. This flexibility enables easy manipulation during both inside-out and outside-in procedures, allowing the tool to conform to the tunnel geometry while maintaining ease of handling and control
3Productivity
If high force is applied to pull the electrical cable through the tunnel, then the cable can be retrieved, but tissue trauma increases and infection risk rises
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler is designed with force-distributing features that cushion the interaction between the retrieval tool and the electrical cable. This cushioning effect reduces peak forces transmitted to the tissue during cable retrieval, minimizing trauma and infection risk while maintaining efficient cable extraction
Solution Approach 2:
The coupler serves as a protective intermediary between the external retrieval forces and the implanted cable-tissue interface. It distributes and attenuates the pulling forces, preventing direct transmission of high stresses to the tissue and reducing the risk of trauma and infection
Data Source
AI summary
A tunneling device for creating a pathway in subcutaneous tissue of a person's body. The tunneling device includes a member having two ends, where each of the ends defines an insertion surface that facilitates the insertion of the ends into the subcutaneous tissue of the person's body. The tunneling device includes an interchangeable handle connectable to each of the ends. The handle defines a grasping surface and an opening. The opening is configured to receive either of the ends. The grasping surface enables a user to securely hold the handle with one hand to forcibly move the member through the subcutaneous tissue of the person's body to create the pathway in the subcutaneous tissue, and pull a cable of an implant device through the created pathway.