Laparoscopic Trocar Brake Mechanism for Tool Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laparoscopic surgery lacks a cost-effective solution for holding tools in place during procedures, leading to surgeon fatigue and increased recovery time, while robotic systems are expensive and require significant resources.
Innovation Solution
A laparoscopic surgery support system with multiple ports connected by multilink arms and a brake mechanism that allows for selective engagement and disengagement of trocars using a foot pedal or voice command, enabling the surgeon to lock tools in position without additional assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If robotic laparoscopic systems are used to hold tools in place, then surgeon fatigue is reduced and tool positioning is improved, but system cost and infrastructure requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A foot pedal acts as an intermediary device between the surgeon and the brake mechanism, allowing the surgeon to engage and disengage brakes on trocars without using hands. This simple mechanical intermediary provides robotic-like tool holding capability while avoiding the complexity and cost of full robotic systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake mechanism on each trocar allows the tool to hold its own position automatically once engaged, without requiring continuous surgeon manipulation or assistance from other personnel. The spring-loaded brake engages automatically when the trocar is inserted and can be disengaged via foot pedal, enabling self-sustaining tool positioning.
2Measurement precision
If robotic systems are used for laparoscopic surgery, then tool manipulation precision is improved, but procedure time increases due to additional activation and deactivation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The brake mechanism maintains continuous tool positioning throughout the surgical procedure. Once the trocar is inserted, the brake automatically engages to hold the tool in place, and can be quickly disengaged via foot pedal when manipulation is needed. This eliminates the repeated activation/deactivation cycles required by robotic systems, allowing continuous surgical workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex electronic control system and software interfaces of robotic systems are replaced with a simple mechanical brake mechanism actuated by a foot pedal. This mechanical substitution provides equivalent tool holding functionality with minimal intervention steps, maintaining procedural efficiency.
3Device complexity
If conventional laparoscopic methods are used without tool holding capability, then system cost is minimized, but surgeon fatigue increases and recovery time extends
Solution Approach 1:
The essential tool holding function is extracted from complex robotic systems and implemented as a standalone brake mechanism on individual trocars. This extracted functionality provides the critical benefit of reduced surgeon fatigue and shorter recovery time while maintaining system simplicity and low cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake mechanism changes the physical state of the trocar from free-moving to constrained, allowing it to hold position securely. This parameter change in the mechanical state of the surgical tool enables prolonged surgical procedures with reduced fatigue without requiring expensive robotic systems.
4Stability of the object's composition
If multiple assistants are used to hold tools during surgery, then tool positioning is maintained, but operational complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each trocar is equipped with its own brake mechanism that automatically maintains tool position without requiring external assistance. The surgeon can independently control each tool's positioning state via foot pedal, eliminating the need for multiple assistants and the coordination complexity they entail.
Data Source
AI summary
A laparoscopic surgery support system can include a plurality of ports configured to receive a trocar therethrough and a plurality of arms connecting the plurality of ports together and configured to allow fixation of a relative position of the plurality of ports. For example, the plurality of ports can include three or more ports.