Tissue Resection End Effector With Integrated Fluid Outflow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopic tissue resection instruments face challenges in effectively resecting and removing tissue from internal surgical sites like the uterus while maintaining a clear working space and efficiently managing fluid and debris.
Innovation Solution
The design of an end effector assembly with a rotating or oscillating distal cutting tip, driven by a drive wire and driver mechanism, which includes a cutting edge and outflow path for fluid management, allowing for efficient tissue resection and debris removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotating or oscillating cutting tip is used to improve tissue resection efficiency, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to the drive wire and driver mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical rotation mechanisms with a simpler reciprocating linear motion system. The driver moves the drive wire back and forth in a linear reciprocating motion, which translates to oscillating motion of the cutting tip, eliminating the need for rotational components while achieving effective tissue cutting through the outer shaft wall
Solution Approach 2:
The drive wire serves as an intermediary element that transmits the reciprocating motion from the driver to the cutting tip. This intermediary mechanism allows the driver to control the cutting tip's oscillating motion without direct mechanical connection, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining effective tissue resection capability
2Ease of operation
If fluid outflow path is routed through the driver and lateral openings in the hub housing, then fluid management is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The driver component performs multiple functions: it provides reciprocating motion to the drive wire for tissue cutting and simultaneously serves as part of the fluid outflow pathway. The lateral openings in the hub housing allow fluid to escape while the driver structure itself forms part of the fluid conduit, combining mechanical and fluid management functions in a single component
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fluid outflow pathway with the driver component and hub housing structure. Instead of having separate fluid management components, the outflow path is integrated through the driver and lateral openings in the hub housing, consolidating multiple functions into fewer components and simplifying the overall device architecture
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5
AI summary
An end effector assembly of a tissue-resecting device includes an outer shaft, a drive wire, the distal cutting tip, a hub housing, and a driver. The outer shaft includes a distal end portion defining a window therethrough. The drive wire extends through the outer shaft. The distal cutting tip is disposed within the outer shaft and engaged with the distal end portion of the drive wire. The distal cutting tip at least partially overlaps the window. The hub housing is engaged with the proximal end portion of the outer shaft. The driver is disposed within the hub housing and engaged with the proximal end portion of the drive wire to driver rotation of the drive wire and distal cutting tip within and relative to the outer shaft. The driver defines an internal lumen and at least one lateral opening disposed in communication with the internal lumen. An outflow path is defined from the window through the outer shaft and about the drive wire, into an interior of the hub housing, through the at least one lateral opening, and through the internal lumen.