Vacuum Nerve Coaptation Conduit for Controlled Regeneration Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nerve repair methods, particularly in peripheral nerves, face challenges such as inaccurate nerve sizing, manual handling of conduits and grafts, and difficulty in achieving secure, end-to-end anastomosis, which are tedious and require extensive microsurgical training.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum reducing instrument and associated tools for nerve repair that facilitate accurate nerve sizing, easy conduit handling, and secure suturing, allowing for controlled nerve coaptation and regeneration gap management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual handling and suturing of conduits and grafts is performed, then flexibility in tissue handling is maintained, but the procedure becomes tedious and time-consuming requiring extensive microsurgical training
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical suturing with an automated suture delivery system that uses a catheter and delivery mechanism to place sutures through the conduit and graft. This substitution of manual mechanical operations with an automated system reduces the time and skill required for the procedure while maintaining precision in suture placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary delivery system consisting of a catheter and suture delivery mechanism that facilitates the connection between the conduit and graft. This intermediary system simplifies the complex manual suturing process by providing a controlled mechanism for suture placement, reducing the need for extensive microsurgical training.
2Measurement precision
If basic linear rulers are used for nerve sizing, then device simplicity is maintained, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to parallax errors and visual alignment difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual mechanical measurement with an optical measurement system that uses a camera and image processing to capture and measure nerve diameter. This substitution eliminates parallax errors and visual alignment difficulties by using optical detection, while the added complexity of the imaging system is justified by the significant improvement in measurement precision.
3Reliability
If manual suture placement is performed, then adaptability to tissue variations is maintained, but the complexity of the procedure increases and reproducibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual suture placement with an automated suture delivery system that uses a catheter and controlled delivery mechanism. This automation ensures consistent and reproducible suture placement at predetermined locations, improving reliability and coaptation consistency while reducing the skill variation between surgeons.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates predetermined suture placement locations and automated positioning mechanisms that prepare the system in advance for consistent results. The catheter and delivery system are pre-configured to place sutures at specific positions, ensuring reproducibility without requiring real-time manual adjustment for each case.
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 simplifies nerve repair processes, making them more efficient and accessible to surgeons without extensive microsurgical training, while ensuring quality repairs and promoting effective nerve regrowth.
Implementation Method 1
A vacuum source is connected to the vacuum port to pull a vacuum on the conduit interior while inserting the nerve stumps into the first and second open end portions
Implementation Method 2
A vacuum source is connected to the vacuum port to pull a vacuum on the conduit interior while inserting the nerve stumps into the first and second open end portions
Data Source
AI summary
A conduit carrier includes a carrier housing including first and second contact ends and a vacuum channel extending therebetween. The vacuum channel is configured to connect to a vacuum source through the first contact end. An engagement mechanism is connected to the second contact end. The engagement mechanism is configured to releasably engage a conduit during a nerve repair procedure. A separator is configured to extend from the second contact end. When the engagement mechanism is engaged with the conduit during the nerve repair procedure: the vacuum channel is connected through the second contact end to a vacuum port of the conduit to enable the vacuum source to pull a vacuum on an interior of the conduit, and the separator extends into the interior of the conduit through the vacuum port to provide a predetermined regeneration gap between a first and a second nerve stump inserted into the conduit.