Tissue Guard Lip Cut-Outs for Specimen Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally-invasive surgical procedures face challenges with restricted access and maneuverability when removing large tissue specimens, often requiring specimens to be broken down into smaller pieces for removal.
Innovation Solution
A tissue guard system with a monolithic body and lip, featuring spaced-apart cut-outs for tabs that engage with an access device, providing secure engagement and protection while allowing for the removal of larger tissue specimens through flexible insertion and adjustable design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a tissue specimen is removed intact through a minimally-invasive opening, then the surgical procedure maintains minimally-invasive benefits, but the tissue specimen size is limited by the opening size
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue specimen is divided into multiple smaller fragments that can be removed sequentially through the minimally-invasive opening. The fragmentation process allows large tissue volumes to be extracted through small access points, resolving the contradiction between minimal surgical trauma and large specimen removal capability
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue guard extends radially outward beyond the access device opening, creating an enlarged removal aperture at the tissue interface while maintaining the small distal opening for minimally-invasive access. This dimensional extension allows large tissue specimens to be removed through the radially extended guard structure without compromising the minimally-invasive nature of the distal access
2Volume of moving object
If the access device opening is enlarged to accommodate large tissue specimens, then large tissue specimens can be removed intact, but surgical trauma increases and minimally-invasive benefits are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue guard creates a radially extended structure that provides a large removal aperture at the proximal end while maintaining a small distal opening. This allows large tissue specimens to be removed through the extended guard structure without requiring a large incision, thus avoiding increased surgical trauma while enabling large specimen removal
3Strength
If the lip is made rigid to provide structural support, then structural support is improved, but the ability to flex during insertion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lip is provided with cut-outs at specific locations to create localized flexibility zones that allow bending during insertion, while the overall lip structure maintains sufficient rigidity to provide structural support when engaged. This local modification of material properties resolves the contradiction between rigid structural support and flexible insertion capability
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A tissue guard includes a body defining an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a lumen extending through the body between the open proximal end and the open distal end. The tissue guard further includes a lip extending radially outwardly from the open proximal end of the body. The lip includes a plurality of spaced-apart cut-outs defined about the outer circumference of the lip to define a plurality of tabs of the lip. Each tab includes an outer edge segment. The body and the lip are monolithically formed as a single piece of material.