Vacuum Shell for Robotic Soft Tissue Manipulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Surgeons face difficulties in manipulating and holding soft tissues, such as breast tissue, during robotic surgery procedures, which hinders the precision and minimization of scarring in breast enhancement and other soft tissue surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum shell device with a flexible rim and instrument ports is designed to create a sealed space around the surgical area, using negative pressure to expand and hold soft tissue in place, allowing for easier access and reduced manual manipulation, and can be adapted for localized pressure application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If robotic devices are used to execute breast enhancement procedures, then automation of surgical manipulation is improved, but the surgeon's ability to manually maintain and position soft tissues deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum shell acts as an intermediary device between the robotic system and the soft tissue. It provides a controlled environment that facilitates robotic manipulation while simultaneously maintaining tissue position through negative pressure, thus bridging the gap between automated and manual control approaches
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes pneumatic pressure (negative pressure/vacuum) to hold and position soft tissues within the shell. This pneumatic mechanism enables automated tissue maintenance without requiring continuous manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between automation and ease of operation
2Ease of operation
If manual manipulation of soft tissues is performed to expose skin for incision, then access for surgical instruments is improved, but scarring and postsurgical complications increase
Solution Approach 1:
Negative pressure within the shell expands the soft tissue and maintains it in a controlled position, providing stable access for instruments while minimizing unnecessary manipulation and reducing the risk of scarring and complications
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the physical state of the soft tissue environment by applying negative pressure, which transforms the tissue from a floppy state to an expanded, stabilized state that is easier to work with and less prone to damage
3Ease of operation
If a vacuum shell is applied to expand and hold soft tissue, then access for incision and manipulation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shell itself is designed as a flexible structure that can conform to the body surface while maintaining the vacuum seal. This flexibility simplifies the overall system compared to rigid alternatives and allows for easier application and removal
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum shell system is divided into modular components including the shell itself, the vacuum pump, and the sealing mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies assembly and operation
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 device enables precise exposure of the skin and minimizes scarring by maintaining soft tissue expansion and stability during surgery, facilitating more accurate and less invasive procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum port that allows negative pressure to be applied to the space
Implementation Method 2
The shell has a soft, flexible rim disposed around the peripheral edges of the shell for sealing to the skin of a patient
Data Source
AI summary
A device for assisting robotic surgery of soft tissue, that comprises a shell with a flexible sealing rim, instrument ports, and a vacuum port. The flexible sealing rim seals the shell around a surgical area and allows for the application of negative pressure via the vacuum port. The negative pressure manipulates soft tissue to allow a surgeon to perform an incision with a robotic surgery apparatus.