Turbine-Driven Tissue Resecting Instrument
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Solution Overview
Problem
In endoscopic tissue resection procedures, maintaining proper fluid distension of the uterus is challenging due to imbalances in fluid inflow and outflow, which can lead to visualization issues or serious complications, and existing systems require separate motors for tissue cutting, complicating the procedure.
Innovation Solution
A tissue resecting instrument with a turbine-driven shaft and cutting member, where fluid outflow suction rotates the turbine and shaft to enable tissue resection, eliminating the need for a separate motor and improving fluid management during procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate motor is used to drive the cutter for tissue resection, then tissue cutting function is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fluid management system and tissue resection drive system into a single integrated mechanism. The turbine that drives the cutter is directly coupled to the fluid flow path, eliminating the need for a separate motor. The fluid flow that serves to distend the uterus and flush debris also provides the rotational force needed for tissue resection, merging two previously separate functions into one unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid flow in the system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it distends the uterus to maintain working space, flushes tissue debris from the surgical site, and drives the turbine to rotate the cutter for tissue resection. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate systems for each function, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining full capability.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If fluid outflow is increased to flush tissue debris, then visualization is improved, but uterus distension is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback control through the turbine mechanism. As fluid flows out to flush debris, it simultaneously drives the turbine to rotate the cutter. The integration creates a self-regulating system where the fluid flow rate needed for visualization automatically provides the drive force for resection, allowing the surgeon to maintain both good visualization and adequate distension without manual coordination of separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fluid outflow function with the cutter drive function. The same fluid that exits the uterus to flush debris and improve visualization is channeled to drive the turbine that rotates the cutter. This integration ensures that increasing fluid outflow for better visualization automatically increases cutter rotation, maintaining the balance between flushing effectiveness and distension stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fluid inflow is increased to maintain uterus distension, then visualization is maintained, but risk of fluid entering vascular system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated turbine system provides automatic feedback control of fluid flow. As fluid inflow increases to maintain distension, the excess fluid naturally flows out and drives the turbine, which in turn increases cutter rotation. This creates a self-regulating system that prevents fluid accumulation without requiring active monitoring or manual adjustment, reducing the risk of fluid overload while maintaining adequate distension for visualization.
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
This solution ensures efficient tissue resection with controlled fluid flow, maintaining uterus distension and reducing the risk of complications by integrating fluid management and cutting mechanisms, enhancing procedural safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The turbine is configured such that proximal fluid flow across the plurality of fins of the turbine urges the turbine to rotate, thereby rotating the shaft relative to the housing to enable tissue resection with the cutting member
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue resecting instrument includes a housing, a shaft rotatable relative to the housing and defining a proximal end portion disposed within the housing and a distal end portion distally-spaced from the housing, a cutting member operably associated with the distal end portion of the shaft, a turbine disposed within the housing and operably associated with the proximal end portion of the shaft, and a fluid outflow tube operably associated with the housing. The fluid outflow tube is adapted to connect to a suction source to enable the suctioning of fluid and resected tissue proximally through a lumen of the shaft, an interior of the housing, and into the fluid outflow tube. The turbine is configured such that proximal fluid flow across the plurality of fins of the turbine urges the turbine to rotate, thereby rotating the shaft relative to the housing to enable tissue resection with the cutting member.