Tissue Perforator for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surgical treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome often result in permanent loss of grip strength and range of motion due to the severing of the transverse carpal ligament, which is necessary to relieve pressure on the median nerve.

Innovation Solution

A tissue perforator with retractable blades is used to lengthen the transverse carpal ligament by creating perforations, allowing it to elongate and relieve pressure on the median nerve without fully severing the ligament, thereby minimizing the loss of grip strength and range of motion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the transverse carpal ligament is severed to relieve pressure on the median nerve, then the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are alleviated, but grip strength and range of motion are permanently reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesymptom reliefVSAvoidgrip strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The ligament is divided into multiple discrete perforations rather than being completely severed. The perforator creates a series of spaced holes that allow controlled lengthening while preserving continuous ligamentous tissue, thus maintaining structural integrity and strength while achieving the necessary elongation to relieve nerve pressure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment applies local perforations at specific intervals along the ligament rather than uniform severing. This localized modification allows the ligament to lengthen in specific regions while maintaining strength in other areas, achieving symptom relief without global loss of structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stress or pressure

If the transverse carpal ligament is severed to create space in the carpal tunnel, then pressure on the median nerve is reduced, but structural integrity of the wrist is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure on median nerveVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The perforations act as intermediaries that facilitate ligament lengthening without complete discontinuation. The spaced perforations allow gradual elongation and tissue remodeling while maintaining continuous structural support, serving as a mediator between the need for lengthening and the need for structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If conventional open release surgery is performed to relieve carpal tunnel pressure, then symptom relief is achieved, but recovery time is extended and complications increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesymptom reliefVSAvoidrecovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the essential function of ligament lengthening from the complex open surgical procedure. By using a percutaneous perforator to create controlled perforations, the treatment removes the need for large incisions, extensive dissection, and prolonged surgical exposure, thereby achieving symptom relief with minimal invasion and faster recovery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical open surgical system (incisions, direct visualization, manual ligament cutting) with a percutaneous mechanical system (guided perforator, blind or fluoroscopic guidance, controlled perforation). This substitution reduces surgical trauma, infection risk, and recovery time while maintaining therapeutic efficacy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8257379B2Tissue structure perforation system and method

Publication Date: 2012.09.04 KYPHON SARL

AI summary

A surgical treatment can involve creating a pattern of perforations in a tissue structure to allow lengthening of that tissue structure. For example, a pattern of perforations can be created in the transverse carpal ligament of a patient suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) that allows the carpal ligament to lengthen slightly. This lengthening can relieve pressure on the median nerve, thereby reducing the symptoms of CTS while maintaining the structural integrity of the wrist. A surgical instrument for use in perforating a tissue structure (such as the transverse ligament) can be an elongate structure with one or more retractable blades. Such a tool can be used in either an open or minimally invasive procedure to create a desired pattern of perforations in the tissue structure.