Tissue Guard Ground Connection for Smoke Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally-invasive surgical procedures face challenges with restricted access and visualization, particularly when removing large tissue specimens, which often require breakdown into smaller pieces, and are complicated by smoke interference during specimen removal.
Innovation Solution
A tissue guard for surgical access devices featuring a proximal ring with channels for smoke evacuation, fingers for secure engagement, and a retention body with tabs for mechanical retention, along with a ground connection assembly for electrical grounding, facilitating specimen handling and smoke evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a tissue guard is mechanically engaged within an access device to improve specimen handling and security, then specimen removal efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanical interface components
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue guard is divided into distinct functional components: a proximal ring for mechanical engagement with the access device, a ground connection assembly for electrical grounding, and a retention body with tabs for securing the guard within the device. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground connection assembly is nested within the proximal ring structure, with the ground ring disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the proximal ring. The retention body is then coupled to the distal end of the ground connection assembly. This nested arrangement reduces overall device complexity by integrating multiple functions into a compact, hierarchical structure rather than using separate discrete components.
2Illumination intensity
If smoke evacuation channels are integrated into the proximal ring to improve visualization by evacuating smoke, then visualization is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The proximal ring serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical engagement with the access device through the fingers, integrates smoke evacuation channels for visualization, and supports the ground connection assembly for electrical grounding. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby lowering manufacturing precision requirements compared to having separate dedicated structures for each function.
3Reliability
If a ground connection assembly is integrated into the tissue guard to improve safety by providing electrical grounding, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground connection assembly is merged with the proximal ring structure by disposing the ground ring on the inner peripheral surface of the proximal ring and coupling the retention body to the distal end of the ground connection assembly. This integration combines safety functionality with existing structural elements, minimizing the increase in device complexity while ensuring reliable electrical grounding.
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
Enhances specimen handling by securing tissue guards within access devices, improving maneuverability and visualization, while effectively evacuating smoke and debris, thus aiding in the efficient removal of tissue specimens during minimally-invasive surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically conductive ground ring disposed on an inner peripheral surface thereof electrically coupled to a ground wire configured for ultimate connection to an electrical ground
Implementation Method 2
an inner peripheral surface having one or more channels defined therein disposed in fluid communication with an operating cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue guard for use with a surgical access device includes a proximal ring having proximal and distal ends, the distal end configured to operably couple to a ground ring that ultimately electrically connects to an electrical ground. One or more mechanical interfaces extend about the proximal ring and are configured to mechanically engage a rim of an access device to secure the tissue guard thereon. A retention body is configured to operably couple to a distal end of the ground ring, the retention body including a distal end configured to operably engage the access device to secure the tissue guard therein.