Variable Diameter Vitrectomy Probe Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vitrectomy probes face limitations in stiffness and flow rate due to increased flow resistance as they become smaller, making it difficult to remove ocular tissue and fluid from the eye without causing trauma.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a hollow cutter and needle with varying diameters, along with a stiffening sleeve, allowing for increased flow rates and stiffness while maintaining a smaller diameter, by expanding from a smaller distal diameter to a larger proximal diameter within the probe, reducing flow resistance and enhancing aspiration efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the probe diameter is decreased to minimize trauma to the eye, then the invasiveness is reduced, but the flow rate decreases due to increased internal resistance to flow
Solution Approach 1:
The probe shaft is divided into multiple sections with different diameters: a smaller distal section for minimal trauma and a larger proximal section for adequate flow rate. This segmentation allows each section to optimize its function independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe transitions from a one-dimensional constant diameter to a multi-dimensional variable diameter structure, allowing the diameter to change along the length of the probe shaft, thus resolving the conflict between small diameter (for trauma reduction) and large diameter (for flow rate).
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the probe diameter is decreased to minimize trauma to the eye, then the invasiveness is reduced, but the instrument stiffness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The probe shaft is segmented into different diameter sections, with the larger proximal section providing structural support and stiffness while the smaller distal section minimizes trauma. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between stiffness and minimal trauma.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the probe shaft have different diameters and thus different mechanical properties. The proximal section has larger diameter for stiffness, while the distal section has smaller diameter for trauma reduction, applying local quality to resolve the contradiction.
3Productivity
If the probe diameter is increased to improve flow rate, then the flow resistance decreases, but the trauma to the eye increases
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is segmented into a larger proximal section for adequate flow rate and a smaller distal section for minimal trauma, allowing the system to achieve both high flow rate and low trauma simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe utilizes variable diameter along its length rather than constant diameter, allowing optimization of flow rate in the proximal section while minimizing trauma in the distal section, thus resolving the contradiction through dimensional variation.
4Strength
If the probe diameter is increased to improve instrument stiffness, then the structural support is enhanced, but the trauma to the eye increases
Solution Approach 1:
The probe shaft is segmented into a larger proximal section for structural support and stiffness, and a smaller distal section for minimal trauma, resolving the contradiction between stiffness and trauma through spatial segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the probe have different diameters tailored to their specific functions: the proximal section has larger diameter for stiffness and structural support, while the distal section has smaller diameter for trauma reduction, applying local quality to resolve the contradiction.
Data Source
AI summary
An enhanced flow ophthalmic surgical probe for ophthalmic microsurgery, such as vitrectomy, in an eye of a patient is disclosed. The enhanced flow probe includes a body, a needle, a cutter, and an optional stiffening sleeve. The needle, the cutter, and the optional stiffening sleeve each possess a widened diameter at its proximal portion relative to the diameter at its distal portion, thereby providing an enhanced ophthalmic surgical probe that allows adequate stiffness, reduced flow resistance, and an increased flow rate while maintaining a less invasive, large gauge diameter needle and cutter.