Uterine Manipulator Tissue Fixation via Mechanical Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current uterine manipulator systems face challenges in achieving reliable tissue fixation, particularly in cases of anatomical abnormalities, rigid tissues, and cancerous tissues, leading to increased risks of damaging surrounding tissues and complications during surgical procedures, as existing methods like balloons may not provide sufficient fixation and can be unreliable.
Innovation Solution
A tissue fixation device with a housing, fixation member carriage, and deployable fixation members, actuated by a suture mechanism, which can be deployed and locked to securely grasp cervical tissue, providing consistent fixation without the need for balloons and allowing for easy engagement and disengagement during surgery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a balloon is used to provide additional pressure on cervical tissue, then tissue fixation is improved, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to potential leaks or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the balloon component from the uterine manipulator system entirely. Instead of using a balloon to provide additional pressure on cervical tissue, the invention uses a purely mechanical compression mechanism where the cervix is compressed between the bell housing and the rod member, eliminating the need for inflatable components and their associated complexity and reliability issues.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using an internal balloon to push tissue outward for fixation, the patent inverts the approach by compressing the tissue inward between two solid surfaces (bell housing and rod member). This mechanical compression approach replaces the pneumatic inflation method, achieving fixation through direct mechanical force rather than internal pressure.
2Reliability
If a balloon is used to increase gripping force, then tissue fixation is improved, but the risk of damaging surrounding tissues increases due to insufficient fixation in challenging anatomical conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the balloon component that caused insufficient fixation in challenging anatomical conditions. By using direct mechanical compression between the bell housing and rod member, the system achieves reliable fixation even in patients with anatomical abnormalities, rigid tissues, or scar tissue, without the need for balloon inflation that may fail to provide adequate gripping force.
Solution Approach 2:
The bell housing is designed to pre-compress the cervical tissue against the rod member before any surgical incisions are made. This preliminary mechanical compression ensures that the tissue is securely held in place, preventing movement that could lead to accidental damage to surrounding structures like ureters and uterine arteries during subsequent surgical steps.
3Reliability
If adjunctive stitches are used to increase tissue fixation, then tissue fixation is improved, but the surgical time increases and emergency removal becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for adjunctive stitches by providing inherent mechanical fixation through the bell housing and rod member compression system. The device achieves sufficient tissue fixation through its mechanical design alone, removing the time-consuming step of placing and tying sutures around the cervix to secure the manipulator in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The uterine manipulator is designed to be self-fixating through its mechanical compression mechanism. The bell housing and rod member automatically provide secure tissue fixation when assembled, without requiring additional surgical interventions like stitching. The device serves its own fixation needs through its inherent mechanical design.
4Force
If a balloon is used to provide tissue fixation, then gripping force is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components and actuation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the balloon and its inflation/deflation mechanisms from the device. Instead of using pneumatic pressure to generate gripping force, the system relies on direct mechanical compression between the bell housing and rod member, achieving adequate gripping force through simple mechanical means rather than complex pneumatic systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using an internal balloon to push tissue outward for fixation, the patent inverts the approach by compressing the tissue inward between two solid surfaces (bell housing and rod member). This mechanical compression approach replaces the pneumatic inflation method, achieving fixation through direct mechanical force rather than internal pressure.
Data Source
AI summary
Tissue fixation members interact with a housing to hold tissue relative to the housing and allow the orientation and position of the grasped tissue to be manipulated with improved efficacy. The tissue fixation members can be easily and quickly moved between deployed and retracted positions to reversibly grasp and release tissue.