Transparent Morcellator Tube with Oscillating Blade
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laparoscopic tissue morcellation techniques face challenges such as inability to visualize tissue during extraction, potential for tissue fragments to be left behind, damage to the cutting blade, and tissue rotation along the morcellator axis, which can lead to inefficient and incomplete removal of bulk tissue.
Innovation Solution
A transparent, concentrically positioned inner cylindrical tube with a sharpened distal edge and a tissue guide that can extend beyond the cutting blade, allowing for visual observation and preventing tissue rotation, combined with a vibrating or oscillating cutting mechanism and a spacer to protect the blade from damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotating cylindrical cutting tube is used for tissue morcellation, then tissue removal speed is improved, but tissue rotation along the longitudinal axis occurs causing inefficient removal
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting tube is designed with an asymmetric configuration where the cutting edges are positioned only on the outer circumference while the inner circumference remains smooth. This asymmetric design prevents tissue from rotating along the longitudinal axis by eliminating the gripping friction that would cause rotation, while still maintaining effective cutting performance through the outer cutting edges.
2Productivity
If the cutting blade is exposed for effective cutting, then tissue morcellation efficiency is improved, but the blade becomes vulnerable to damage from graspers or tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting tube is designed to be movable relative to the grasper, allowing dynamic adjustment of the cutting blade's exposure. The cutting tube can be retracted to protect the blade when not in use and extended to expose the cutting edges when cutting is required. This dynamic configuration maintains blade durability while ensuring cutting effectiveness during the morcellation process.
3Productivity
If tissue is pulled through the morcellator shaft for extraction, then tissue removal is achieved, but small tissue fragments can be left behind causing cross-contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a visualization mechanism that replaces reliance solely on tactile feedback from tissue extraction. By enabling visual observation of the tissue pulling process, the system allows the surgeon to directly observe and ensure complete removal of all tissue fragments, eliminating the risk of leaving small pieces behind that could cause cross-contamination.
4Loss of information
If a transparent outer tube is used for visualization, then tissue observation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent outer tube serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the morcellation device, acts as a protective sheath for the cutting tube, and enables visual observation of the tissue extraction process. By combining these multiple functions into a single component, the design achieves visualization capability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and complete removal of large tissue segments with reduced risk of cross-contamination and blade damage, facilitating continuous peeling and extraction while maintaining visualization and preventing tissue rotation.
Implementation Method 1
a second, inner cylindrical tube positioned concentrically within a lumen of the first, outer tube, and having a sharpened distal edge
Implementation Method 2
a first, outer cylindrical tube that is transparent, a second, inner cylindrical tube that is transparent
Implementation Method 3
combined with a vibrating or oscillating cutting mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a tissue morcellator for minimally invasive surgery. The morcellator has a metallic cutting ring mounted on a visually transparent hollow cylinder, which in combination with a visually transparent outer morcellator tube enables a surgeon to visualize the inside of the morcellator shaft for detection of loose tissue fragments in the device. A tenaculum used with the morcellation device has a spacer for preventing contact with the blade. The cutting tube can oscillate, rather than rotate, along the longitudinal axis of the cutting tube. The morcellator utilizes an extendable tissue guide on the outer tube of the morcellator shaft for preventing the tissue from rotating along the longitudinal axis of the morcellator tube. This allows the tissue to be continuously rotated into the morcellator device for continuous peel. The tissue guide can also be fully retracted to allow for coring of the bulk tissue.