Veress Needle Visualization Stylet for Safe Tissue Penetration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current laparoscopic surgery techniques using Veress needles lack visualization during tissue penetration, leading to potential injury of internal organs and difficulty in determining when the needle has entered the body cavity, resulting in inadvertent damage to organs like the bowel and major blood vessels.
Innovation Solution
A device equipped with a visualization stylet having an electronic photodetector chip and a light source, which provides real-time illumination and feedback to the user through a processor and display, allowing for direct visualization of tissue penetration and preventing further tissue cutting once the cavity is reached, using a spring mechanism to extend the stylet beyond the needle tip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard Veress needle is used for tissue penetration, then the needle can be inserted to form an incision, but the surgeon cannot see where the needle is going leading to inadvertent injury to internal organs
Solution Approach 1:
A visualization stylet with a distal lens and proximal display is introduced as an intermediary component within the needle assembly. The stylet includes optical elements (lens) and electronic components (display, processor) that serve as a mediator between the needle tip and the surgeon's eyes, providing real-time visual feedback of tissue penetration without requiring the surgeon to directly see the needle path
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical blind insertion method with an optical-electronic visualization system. Instead of relying solely on tactile feedback and anatomical knowledge, the system uses a distal lens to capture light and images from the tissue interface, processes this information through a processor, and displays it on a proximal display, substituting mechanical sensing with optical sensing and electronic processing
2Productivity
If the needle is advanced blindly through tissue, then the incision can be formed, but it is difficult to determine when the needle has entered the body cavity
Solution Approach 1:
The visualization stylet provides real-time visual feedback to the surgeon during needle advancement. The distal lens captures images of the tissue at the needle tip, and the proximal display shows these images, allowing the surgeon to observe tissue deformation and cavity entry in real-time. This continuous feedback loop enables precise determination of when the needle has entered the body cavity while maintaining efficient progression through the tissue
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes optical properties of tissue, including light reflection, absorption, and color characteristics, to provide visual cues about tissue type and cavity entry. Different tissues reflect and absorb light differently, and the display can show color or brightness changes that indicate the transition from solid tissue to the body cavity, enhancing the surgeon's ability to precisely detect cavity entry
3Productivity
If the sharp outer cannula is used to penetrate tissue, then efficient incision can be made, but accidental cutting of underlying organs may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded inner cannula is pre-positioned within the outer cannula and held in a retracted state during initial penetration. Once the needle enters the body cavity (detected through visualization), the spring automatically propels the inner cannula forward to cover the sharp outer cannula tip. This preliminary positioning and automatic deployment mechanism ensures that the sharp cutting edge is exposed only when needed for efficient penetration and is immediately protected once cavity entry is achieved, preventing accidental organ damage
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 safer and more precise tissue penetration by visually confirming the entry into the abdominal cavity, reducing the risk of organ damage and improving the accuracy of insufflation procedures.
Implementation Method 1
light originating from the light source is reflected back to the electronic photodetector chip when the apparatus is traveling through tissue
Implementation Method 2
a spring housed within the handle for biasing the visualization stylet to extend past the sharp distal end of the hollow distally extending needle absent resistance by tissue against the visualization stylet
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides devices and methods for insufflating abdomens of subjects under direct visualization. Such devices and methods, in some implementations, include features for cleaning the devices, and certain implementations of the methods permit procedures wherein it is not necessary to use a typical obturator to place a cannula, resulting in safer procedures.