Trocar Ring Seal Transforming Soft-Hard Friction to Hard-Hard
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trocar sealing apparatuses fail to provide a general and low-resistance sealing solution for surgical instruments with diameters between 5 mm and 12 mm, and are not adaptable to instruments with various shapes, leading to poor dynamic sealing and increased motion resistance during laparoscopic surgery.
Innovation Solution
A ring sealing apparatus with a guiding mechanism featuring a rotary structure and a sealing ring made of elastic medical macromolecular material, which minimizes contact area with surgical instruments, transforming 'soft-hard' friction into 'hard-hard' friction between plastic guiding blocks and metal sheaths, reducing motion resistance and facilitating instrument insertion and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a funnel-shaped silica gel sealing ring with a central hole is used, then the sealing effect is improved, but the motion resistance increases and dynamic sealing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring is divided into multiple independent sealing elements (first sealing element, second sealing element, third sealing element) arranged circumferentially. Each sealing element can independently deform and adapt to the surgical instrument, reducing overall friction while maintaining sealing effectiveness. The segmentation allows each element to work independently, improving dynamic sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements are designed to be elastically deformable, allowing them to dynamically adapt to the presence and movement of surgical instruments. The elastic material enables the sealing ring to flex and conform during instrument insertion and removal, reducing motion resistance while maintaining reliable sealing throughout the dynamic process.
2Reliability
If a sealing ring with diameter of 4 mm is used for a 10 mm or 12 mm surgical instrument, then the sealing effect is compromised, but increasing the diameter increases resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing apparatus is designed to accommodate surgical instruments of varying diameters (5-12 mm) using the same sealing ring structure. The multiple sealing elements with different dimensions can adapt to different instrument sizes, providing universal applicability. The elastic material allows the sealing ring to expand and contract to match different instrument diameters without requiring multiple specialized seals.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements have different dimensions and are made of elastic material that can change its effective sealing parameters dynamically. When a surgical instrument is inserted, the sealing elements deform and adjust their contact area and pressure distribution, changing the effective sealing parameters to match the instrument diameter, thereby reducing resistance while maintaining sealing.
3Device complexity
If a radial sealing apparatus with a central hole is used, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to various surgical instrument shapes is poor
Solution Approach 1:
Different sealing elements are designed with different local properties - varying dimensions, shapes, and material characteristics to match different surgical instrument types. The first, second, and third sealing elements have distinct geometries that can accommodate V-shaped heads, grooved surfaces, and stepped configurations, providing localized adaptation while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing apparatus uses composite construction with multiple sealing elements made of different elastic materials or with different physical properties. This composite approach allows each element to be optimized for specific instrument types while maintaining a relatively simple overall sealing structure, enhancing adaptability without significantly increasing complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If a disposable trocar with simplified structure is used, then the cost is reduced, but the sealing performance and generality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring is segmented into multiple independent sealing elements that can be manufactured using simple injection molding or extrusion processes suitable for disposable devices. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized for specific functions while maintaining manufacturing simplicity and cost-effectiveness for single-use trocars.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic sealing elements are designed with parameter variations that enable a single disposable sealing ring design to accommodate multiple instrument sizes and types. By carefully selecting material properties and geometric parameters, the sealing apparatus achieves high reliability and generality in a cost-effective disposable configuration.
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 solution enables seamless insertion and removal of surgical instruments with diameters between 5 mm and 12 mm, maintaining excellent sealing performance and low motion resistance, thus addressing the limitations of prior art and enhancing surgical efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing ring (3) made of an elastic medical macromolecular material and provided with a surgical instrument through hole (31)
Data Source
Figure 1-1~2-2
Figure 2-3~2-8
Figure 2-9
AI summary
A rotary structure having a large upper part, a small middle part and a large lower part is formed between guiding blocks (11) of a guiding mechanism (1). A positioning groove (10) is disposed at the wasp-waist of the guiding block (11). The bottom of a sealing ring (3) is embedded in the positioning groove (10) to surround the guiding block (11). When a surgical instrument is inserted, the sealing ring (3) confined within the positioning groove (10) extends out of the gap between the guiding blocks (11) to surround the instrument. The contact area between the sealing ring (3) and the instrument provides a guiding function to different forms of surgical instrument and transforms a "soft-hard" friction area between the sealing ring (3) and the instrument into a "hard-hard" friction area between a plastic guiding surface of the guiding blocks (11) and an outer metal sheath of the instrument.