Variable Length Access Channel for Natural Orifice Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive surgical techniques face challenges in efficiently accessing body cavities through natural orifices, particularly in accommodating anatomical variations and maintaining effective sealing and pressure control during procedures.
Innovation Solution
The development of a variable length access channel and sealing system that includes a cannula with a proximal extension, allowing for adjustable length and secure sealing of the orifice, along with a sealing unit and cap system to manage pressure and fluid communication between the orifice and body cavity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-length cannula is used for access, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate anatomical variations in patients
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula is designed with a telescopic structure that allows it to extend and retract dynamically. The inner cannula can slide within the outer cannula to adjust the effective length, enabling the device to adapt to different anatomical configurations while maintaining a compact form when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula is divided into multiple segments (inner and outer portions) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the cannula to achieve variable lengths through telescopic movement, providing adaptability without requiring multiple separate devices.
2Ease of operation
If the orifice is opened for access, then access to body cavity is achieved, but pressure control and sealing become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible sealing membrane is positioned at the orifice opening to create a seal around the cannula. This flexible film allows the cannula to pass through while maintaining pressure control by preventing leakage, enabling both access and reliable sealing simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing membrane acts as an intermediary element between the external environment and the body cavity. It mediates the conflict between needing open access for the cannula and maintaining pressure control, allowing the cannula to penetrate while the membrane seals around it to prevent pressure loss.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple access points are created, then comprehensive surgical access is achieved, but tissue excision and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single cannula is designed to accommodate multiple surgical instruments simultaneously through its structure. Multiple instruments can be inserted through the same cannula opening, providing comprehensive surgical access without requiring multiple separate access points or ports.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple instrument pathways are merged into a single cannula structure. Instead of creating separate openings for each instrument, the design combines multiple access channels within one cannula, reducing the number of tissue excisions needed while maintaining versatile surgical capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An access port for sealing an opening of a natural orifice and supplying access to a body cavity through the natural orifice including: a sealing unit; an unobstructed single lumen cannula extending to the body cavity; a connector connecting the cannula to the sealing unit; an access opening through the sealing unit to the single lumen; a cap including a plurality of cap openings configured to seal between medical instruments inserted into the openings and the access opening.