Trocar Depth Limiter With Locking Cannula Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Trocars used in minimally invasive surgery often penetrate too deeply into the body, risking organ perforation and require continuous manual support, leading to potential contamination and instrument misalignment.
Innovation Solution
A depth limiter component with a locking mechanism that secures the trocar cannula at a fixed position, preventing unwanted penetration and maintaining the cannula's upright position, allowing single-handed operation and enabling multiple sterilization cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual support is continuously applied to the trocar cannula, then the cannula can be positioned, but the operator's hand becomes contaminated and instrument alignment is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The trocar assembly becomes self-positioning through the depth limiter component that automatically maintains the correct insertion depth and upright orientation without requiring continuous manual support from the operator
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static manual positioning to dynamic automatic positioning where the depth limiter continuously adjusts and maintains the trocar cannula's position and orientation as it moves through the body cavity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the trocar penetrates deeper into the body, then access is improved, but organ perforation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The depth limiter component is pre-configured with a mechanical stop that prevents the trocar cannula from penetrating beyond a safe depth, counteracting the operator's tendency to insert too deeply before organ perforation can occur
Solution Approach 2:
The depth limiter acts as an intermediary component between the trocar cannula and the body cavity, providing a mechanical interface that controls and limits the penetration depth to prevent direct contact with internal organs
3Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to secure the trocar cannula, then penetration depth is controlled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is extracted as a separate, simple mechanical component (depth limiter with stop) rather than being integrated into the complex trocar assembly, allowing the locking mechanism to be added only when needed and to be easily removed or adjusted
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
Prevents unintended trocar penetration and maintains instrument alignment, reducing tissue damage and contamination risks while facilitating efficient, reusable surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure element designed to apply mechanical pressure for setting the trocar cannula in the fixed position by friction
Implementation Method 2
a lever connected to a C shaped pin, the C shaped pin designed to engage the trocar cannula and apply mechanism pressure to the trocar cannula in response to a pressure applied to the lever
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a kit for minimally invasive surgery, comprising: a trocar cannula, and a depth limiter component comprising: a lumen sized and shaped to accommodate a trocar cannula, wherein an external diameter of the trocar cannula is sized to correspond to an internal diameter of the lumen, a locking mechanism that sets the trocar cannula in a fixed position within the lumen, a housing that includes the lumen and the locking mechanism, and at least one aperture of the housing in fluid communication between an internal cavity of the housing and an external environment external to the housing