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 and infection risks due to the need for invasive procedures and non-adaptable tunneling tools, leading to extended recovery times and complications.
Innovation Solution
A surgical tunneling device with a malleable member and interchangeable handles that facilitate easy insertion and manipulation through subcutaneous tissue, allowing for adaptable use in various procedures and minimizing tissue stress, 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 to surrounding tissue, but the force required to pull the electrical cable through the body becomes relatively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tunneling tool as an intermediary device that creates a pre-formed tunnel through the body tissue. The electrical cable is then threaded through this pre-created tunnel rather than being pulled directly through tissue, which significantly reduces the force required while maintaining secure attachment of the connector to surrounding tissue
2Productivity
If high force is applied to pull the electrical cable through the tunneling path, then the cable can be successfully routed through the body, but tissue trauma and infection risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tunneling tool serves as a mediator that creates a prepared pathway through the tissue. By threading the cable through this pre-formed tunnel rather than pulling it directly through tissue, the harmful effects of high force application are eliminated while ensuring successful cable routing
Solution Approach 2:
The tunneling tool performs preliminary action by creating the tunnel pathway before the cable is inserted. This pre-prepared path allows the cable to be threaded through with minimal force, preventing tissue trauma and reducing infection risk
3Ease of manufacture
If a tunneling tool designed for one procedure (outside-in or inside-out) is used, then that specific procedure can be performed, but the tool is not suitable for the other procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The tunneling tool is designed with universal features that allow it to be used in both outside-in and inside-out procedures. The tool includes a handle with an opening that can receive the electrical cable from either direction, and the malleable member can be manipulated to create tunnels in both procedural configurations, making a single tool suitable for multiple surgical approaches
4Measurement precision
If traditional tunneling procedures are used with two-handed manipulation, then precise control can be achieved, but surgical efficiency and ease of operation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The handle design merges the functions of cable manipulation and tunneling control into a single grasping interface. The opening in the handle allows the cable to be manipulated while the malleable member creates the tunnel, combining what would traditionally require two-handed operation into a more efficient single-handed or simplified two-handed procedure
Data Source
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Figure 3
Figure 4A~4
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.