Tiltable Imaging Assembly for Continuous Laparoscopic Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive surgery often requires multiple incisions and frequent repositioning of the laparoscope to maintain visualization, disrupting the surgical field and instruments, necessitating an improved imaging assembly with enhanced maneuverability and continuous visualization capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An imaging assembly with a tiltable housing and actuator providing multi-degree-of-freedom movement, incorporating a skin adhering fastening member, actuator, and gas-inlet apertures for cooling electronic components, allowing continuous imaging and reduced need for repositioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the camera on the tip of the laparoscope is directed toward a particular port to observe exit ports, then the risk of injury to the patient is reduced, but the visualization of the surgical field is lost and the surgical procedure is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system is divided into multiple independent imaging devices: one dedicated to observing port exit points and another dedicated to visualizing the surgical field. This segmentation allows both functions to operate simultaneously without interfering with each other, resolving the contradiction between patient safety monitoring and surgical continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple imaging devices and their functions are merged into a single integrated imaging assembly. The assembly combines port observation capability with surgical field visualization capability, allowing both functions to be performed simultaneously through multiple cameras working in parallel, thus maintaining both patient safety monitoring and surgical procedure continuity.
2Ease of operation
If multiple incisions are made to insert surgical tools and viewing devices, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but the trauma to the patient increases and recovery time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging assembly is designed as a multi-functional device that can perform multiple functions: it can observe port exit points, visualize the surgical field, and potentially combine these functions in a single integrated system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate devices and incisions, thereby reducing patient trauma while maintaining full surgical capability.
3Loss of information
If the laparoscope is frequently repositioned to maintain visualization, then the surgical field can be continuously observed, but the surgical instruments are disrupted and the procedure is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The visualization function is segmented into multiple independent imaging devices positioned at different locations. One device focuses on port exit points while another focuses on the surgical field. This segmentation eliminates the need to reposition a single laparoscope, as each function has its own dedicated imaging device that remains stationary, thus maintaining both continuous visualization and surgical procedure efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables continuous and high-quality imaging with reduced incision points and improved surgical efficiency by allowing the imaging assembly to maintain visualization without disrupting the surgical field, enhancing surgical precision and reducing patient trauma.
Implementation Method 1
a skin adhering fastening member coupled to the housing... the skin adhering fastening includes a vacuum pad coupled to a vacuum source
Implementation Method 2
gas can flow through the gas-inlet apertures and flow past electronic components in the shaft... the housing may be coupled by a conduit to a vacuum source
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging assembly includes a shaft which extends from a housing, the shaft including a distal tip, an imaging device located in the shaft or in the housing, a controller for operating the imaging device, a skin adhering fastening member coupled to the housing, and an actuator coupled to the housing and operative to tilt the housing about a joint about one or more rotation axes.