Telescoping Laparoscopic Surgical Device for Pediatric Tissue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical staplers are not designed for use on small tissue sections or organs, such as those in pediatric surgery, as they are inadequately sized and operate inefficiently due to the need for rigid support structures that cannot be simply scaled down.
Innovation Solution
A laparoscopic surgical device with telescoping sections that can be extended or retracted, allowing for a tissue interaction portion to effectively grip, cut, and staple small tissues, featuring a protective sheath and actuator for precise manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid support structures (I-beams, rigid structures) are used to provide structural rigidity for surgical staplers, then the device achieves necessary strength and stability, but the device cannot be simply scaled down for pediatric surgery applications
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple telescoping sections that can extend and retract independently. Each section maintains structural integrity through its own support structure while allowing relative movement between sections. This segmentation enables the device to achieve full extension length for adult procedures while being capable of retraction to smaller effective diameters for pediatric procedures, resolving the contradiction between maintaining strength and enabling scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic telescoping mechanism where sections can move relative to each other. The support structures are designed to provide rigidity when needed (during stapling operations) while allowing controlled movement for size adjustment. This dynamic capability enables the same device to adapt to different patient sizes and surgical requirements without compromising structural strength during critical operations.
2Productivity
If surgical staplers are designed with fixed size for adult patients, then the device provides adequate functionality for large tissues, but it operates inefficiently on small tissue sections
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping mechanism allows the device to dynamically adjust its effective diameter and length to match the size of the tissue being operated on. During stapling, the device extends to provide full functionality for efficient operation. When retracting, it reduces its effective size to match smaller pediatric tissues, thereby maintaining high surgical efficiency across different patient populations and tissue sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes critical dimensional parameters (diameter and length) through the telescoping action of its sections. By adjusting these physical parameters, the device can optimize its performance for different tissue sizes. The support structures are designed to maintain structural integrity at various sizes, allowing the device to change parameters without compromising functionality or efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device uses telescoping sections to enable size adjustment, then it becomes adaptable for different patient sizes, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into multiple telescoping sections that can be independently controlled. Each section has its own support structure and can move relative to the others. This segmentation, while increasing complexity, enables fine-grained control over the device dimensions, allowing precise adaptation to different tissue sizes and surgical requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping mechanism serves multiple functions: size adjustment, tissue engagement, and maintaining structural rigidity during operations. By making the device multi-functional, the complexity of the telescoping mechanism is justified by the additional capabilities it provides. The same mechanism that increases adaptability also enables efficient stapling operations on tissues of varying sizes.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for use in laparoscopic surgery is provided. The device has a plurality of telescoping sections positioned in and movable relative to a protective sheath between an extended configuration, wherein a body section of a first one of the telescoping sections is spaced apart from a body section of a second one of the telescoping sections, and a retracted configuration wherein the body section of the first one of the telescoping sections is in contact with the body section of the second one of the telescoping sections. A tissue interaction portion is configured to interact with tissue in response to the manipulation of a device actuator.