Tissue Transfer Device Controlled Expulsion and Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical techniques for repairing articular cartilage defects face challenges such as graft viability issues due to harsh handling, inefficient measurement methods, and mismatched graft topography, leading to inaccuracies and contamination.

Innovation Solution

A tissue transfer device with a handle, chisel, and pusher rod for controlled graft expulsion, along with alignment guides and depth measurement tools to ensure precise graft placement and minimize contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a mallet is used to deliver the graft, then the graft can be transferred to the defect area, but the graft viability is harmed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegraft transfer efficiencyVSAvoidgraft viability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a delivery device as an intermediary tool between the graft and the defect site. This device allows the graft to be pushed or delivered without direct contact with a mallet, thereby maintaining graft viability while still achieving efficient transfer to the defect area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mallet-based mechanical delivery system with a controlled pushing mechanism. This substitution eliminates the harsh impact forces that harm graft viability while maintaining the ability to transfer the graft efficiently to the defect site.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If the graft is removed from the harvest tool for measurement, then the graft length can be measured accurately, but the graft is exposed to contamination and surgical time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegraft length measurement accuracyVSAvoidgraft contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates measurement scales directly into the harvest tool and delivery device, allowing the graft length to be measured preliminarily while it is still secured in the harvest tool. This eliminates the need to remove the graft for measurement, thereby preventing contamination and reducing surgical time while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If visual estimation is used for alignment, then the device operation is simple, but the alignment accuracy varies significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment operation simplicityVSAvoidgraft alignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates alignment guides with visual indicators that provide real-time feedback on the alignment status. These guides allow the surgeon to easily adjust the device orientation to achieve precise alignment, combining operational simplicity with high accuracy through visual feedback mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Measurement precision

If multiple measurements are taken for hole depth, then the depth can be determined accurately, but the surgical time increases and measurement inaccuracies occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehole depth measurement accuracyVSAvoidsurgical time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple measurement capabilities into a single device that can measure hole depth at various locations simultaneously. This multi-functional approach allows accurate depth determination without requiring multiple separate measurement actions, thereby reducing surgical time while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250017617A1Devices and methods for tissue transfer

Publication Date: 2025.01.16 SMITH & NEPHEW INC

AI summary

A tissue transfer device includes a handle and a chisel attached to the handle. A pusher rod or tamp extends through the chisel and is axially moveable relative to the chisel. A control mechanism coupled to the handle moves the tamp distally relative to the outer tube to expel a tissue graft from the chisel in a controlled manner. The tamp has a measurement scale that allows the user to leave the harvested graft in the harvest tool during measurement.