Tapered Dilating Member Tip for Minimizing Tissue Trauma
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments often require substantial force to dilate percutaneous access points, leading to tissue damage and trauma during endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures due to their design.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a dilating member featuring a tapered configuration defined by two longitudinal arc segments with decreasing radii of curvature, a penetrating tip, and a planar surface to facilitate initial insertion and minimize tissue trauma, reducing the force required for dilation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional surgical instrument tip is used to dilate the access point, then the dilation function is achieved, but substantial force is required which causes tissue damage and trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument tip incorporates a reduced profile penetrating tip at its distal end, creating a localized area with different geometric properties (smaller radius of curvature) compared to the rest of the shaft. This local geometric modification allows the tip to penetrate tissue with reduced force requirements, thereby reducing tissue damage while maintaining the overall dilation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument tip features a penetrating tip with a smaller radius of curvature compared to the main shaft. This curved, rounded geometry at the tip allows it to penetrate tissue more easily by distributing the applied force over a smaller area, reducing stress concentration and minimizing tissue damage during the dilation process.
2Productivity
If substantial force is applied to force the instrument through the access point, then the access point can be dilated, but tissue trauma increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument tip modifies the geometric parameters of the shaft, specifically reducing the radius of curvature at the distal end to create a penetrating tip. This parameter change allows the instrument to achieve tissue penetration at lower force levels, thereby reducing tissue trauma while maintaining productive dilation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument for use with a surgical portal apparatus includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis and a dilating member disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft. The dilating member has a first longitudinal arc segment and a second longitudinal arc segment in diametrical opposed relation to the first longitudinal arc segment. The first and second longitudinal arc segments define respective first and second radii of curvature transverse to the longitudinal axis. The first and second radii of curvature decrease from proximal to distal to define a generally tapered configuration of the dilating member. The first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature at predefined longitudinal positions of the dilating member such that the first longitudinal arc segment extends distally beyond the second longitudinal segment to define a penetrating tip. The penetrating tip has a reduced profile and dimensioned to facilitate initial insertion of the dilating member into tissue.