Trackable Surgical Dilator With Visual Cues for Pedicle Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone marrow biopsy needle assemblies for creating holes in the pedicle of a vertebral body are limited by size, obtrusiveness, and lack of clear determination of position and angle from medical images, with unclear visualization of the stylet or wire in use.
Innovation Solution
A trackable dilator system with a tubular stylus and interchangeable topper elements, featuring distinct colors, shapes, and luminance for visual confirmation, and a cylindrical design with varying thickness and helical features for precise positioning and depth determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a bone marrow biopsy needle assembly is used to create a hole in the pedicle, then the procedure can be performed, but the handle becomes obtrusive and the position and angle cannot be clearly determined from medical images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional obtrusive handle from the needle assembly and replaces it with a sleek, low-profile design that does not interfere with surgical visualization or navigation. The handleless or minimized handle design eliminates the obstruction problem while maintaining functional capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates visually distinct features on the needle assembly, including colored bands or markings, that enhance visibility in medical images and provide clear visual cues for position and angle determination. These visual indicators allow surgeons to accurately track the instrument's orientation and location throughout the procedure.
2Loss of information
If a stylet is used with the needle assembly, then the hole can be created, but it is not always possible to determine what stylet or wire is currently used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color-coded stylets and/or colored identification features on the needle assembly to clearly indicate which stylet is currently attached. This visual coding system eliminates confusion about the current configuration while maintaining the ability to use multiple different stylets for various surgical needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the stylet system as modular, interchangeable components that can be easily swapped while maintaining clear visual identification. Each stylet type has distinct visual markers, and the system allows for quick replacement without losing track of the current configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional needle assembly is used, then the procedure can be completed, but the size limitations prevent versatile use in different surgical scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a modular design where the needle assembly, stylets, and accessory components can be independently selected and combined. This segmentation allows the surgical system to be adapted to different patient anatomies and surgical scenarios by choosing appropriate component sizes and configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal platform that can accommodate multiple stylet types and configurations within a single needle assembly system. The standardized interface and modular design allow one base needle assembly to serve multiple functions across different surgical procedures, eliminating size limitations through configurable rather than fixed dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
A trackable dilator system that provides visual confirmation as its component configurations utilized a tubular stylus having an end configured for securing to one of a plurality of topper elements, each being visually discernible from others of the plurality of topper elements because of one of a different color, shape, reflectance, luminance, or material composition properties of the topper element. Also disclosed is a dilator system having a proximal exterior with a maximum outer diameter relative to an interior lumen. A plurality of subregions of the exterior region are characterized by a dilator wall thickness less than the maximum outer diameter to facilitate visual recognition of the axis and depth of the dilator body when in situ.