Vacuum-Assisted Surgical Dissection Tool with Rotating Blade
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive thoracic surgery requires instrumentation that can efficiently remove tumors while avoiding tissue obstruction and facilitating precise manipulation within the smaller thoracic cavity, particularly due to the challenge of accessing the thoracic cavity through a smaller opening and the difficulty in maneuvering surgical devices around the inferior rib cage.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device with a handle, an elongated tube, and a suction tip equipped with a cutting blade that can rotate across a cavity to sever tissue sections, combined with a vacuum system for controlled specimen retrieval, allowing for precise dissection and specimen removal through a minimally invasive approach.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a mini-thoracotomy approach is used to access the thoracic cavity, then patient trauma and recovery time are reduced, but the surgical opening becomes considerably smaller making device manipulation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical device is divided into multiple functional segments: a handle for external manipulation, an elongated tube for navigation, a suction tip for tissue engagement, and a cutting blade for specimen separation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while passing through the constrained mini-thoracotomy opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting blade is positioned within the cavity of the suction tip, and the suction tip is inserted within the elongated tube. This nested configuration allows the device to maintain a compact profile during insertion through the small opening while providing full functionality once deployed in the thoracic cavity.
2Ease of operation
If the inferior rib cage is spread apart to access the thoracic cavity, then surgical access is achieved, but the angle of approach becomes very difficult due to obstruction by the rib cage
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade is designed to rotate across the cavity rather than being fixed in a single orientation. This dynamic capability allows the blade to adapt to different tissue angles and positions, enabling effective dissection regardless of the approach angle constrained by the rib cage structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting blade rotates in an arc across the cavity, adding a rotational dimension to the linear insertion path through the mini-thoracotomy. This allows the blade to access tissue from multiple angles within the cavity without requiring multiple insertion trajectories.
3Productivity
If a cutting blade is added to the suction device for tumor removal, then tissue sectioning capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade, suction tip, and vacuum system are merged into a single integrated device. The blade rotates within the suction tip cavity, and both functions (cutting and suction) are coordinated through a single handle mechanism, eliminating the need for separate cutting and suction instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical device performs multiple functions: the elongated tube provides navigation and support, the suction tip engages and aspirates tissue, the cutting blade sections tissue, and the vacuum system removes specimens. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate instruments needed during surgery.
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
Enables controlled and precise removal of tissue specimens with reduced trauma and pain for the patient, improving surgical efficiency and reducing recovery time by providing a device that can effectively navigate the smaller thoracic cavity and manage tissue obstruction.
Implementation Method 1
vacuum tube communicates with the suction tube to aspirate a tissue section
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical device includes a handle, an elongated tube extending distally from the handle, and a suction tip at a distal end portion of the elongated tube. The suction tip has a cavity formed therein. A cutting blade is positioned at least partially within the cavity and rotatable across the cavity to sever tissue, the cavity dimensioned to receive the severed tissue for removal from a patient's body.