Trocar With Deployable Camera Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional trocars used in laparoscopic surgery have limited visual fields due to the need for a single endoscope, and expanding the visual field by adding additional endoscopes increases patient burden, as existing solutions with camera mechanisms enlarge the trocar's diameter and thickness, making it difficult to reduce the camera's height while maintaining waterproof and protective features.

Innovation Solution

A trocar design featuring a pipe with a slidable outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, where a camera is journaled at the distal end and biased by an elastic member for deployment and storage, allowing the camera to turn between deployment and storage states, with a connector for controlling the camera and a waterproof structure, reducing the trocar's overall height and diameter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a camera mechanism is installed in the trocar to expand the visual field, then the observation capability is improved, but the trocar's diameter and thickness are enlarged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobservation capabilityVSAvoidtrocar diameter and thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The camera is journaled at the distal end of the inner cylinder and can be stored within the hollow space of the outer cylinder. When not in use, the camera is retracted inside the trocar shaft, nesting the camera volume within the trocar's existing structure without increasing overall dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The camera is made movable between a stored position inside the trocar and a deployed position outside the trocar. An elastic member biases the camera toward deployment, while the slidable outer cylinder allows controlled movement. This dynamic configuration enables the camera to be compact during insertion and expanded during surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional endoscopes are inserted to widen the visual field, then the observation capability is improved, but the patient burden increases due to additional holes in the body wall

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual field widthVSAvoidpatient burden

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The trocar is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a surgical instrument guide and a camera platform. The single trocar with an integrated camera provides both mechanical surgical access and visual observation capabilities, eliminating the need for separate endoscope insertions through additional body wall holes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The camera function is merged with the trocar structure itself. Instead of using separate endoscopes, the camera is integrated into the trocar's distal end, combining the surgical access function and observation function into a single instrument that requires only one insertion point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Volume of moving object

If the camera is made compact to reduce height, then the trocar dimensions are reduced, but achieving waterproof structure becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera heightVSAvoidwaterproof structure implementation

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A waterproof film is used to seal the camera housing and create a waterproof structure. This flexible sealing approach allows the camera to be compact while maintaining waterproof integrity, as the thin film can conform to the compact camera geometry without requiring complex rigid sealing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

The design enhances the visual field during surgery by allowing the camera to be deployed and stored within the trocar without increasing the trocar's diameter or thickness, reducing patient burden and maintaining a waterproof structure for the camera.

Implementation Method 1

a deployment and storage mechanism including an elastic member, in the inner cylinder, biasing the camera to the deployment state

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11083489B2Trocar with deployable camera

Publication Date: 2021.08.10 KYOCERA CORP

AI summary

A trocar for inserting a surgical instrument in a body may include: a pipe including an outer cylinder relatively slidable in an axial direction, and an inner cylinder; a head located on a proximal end of the pipe; a camera that is journaled in a distal end notch of the pipe inner cylinder so as to be turnable between a deployment state in which the camera rotates to the outside of the pipe and a storage state in which the camera is stored inside the pipe; and a coil spring biasing the camera to the deployment state.