Endoscopic Vessel Harvester Visual Cue for Single-Pass Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic vessel harvesting systems require multiple tools, increasing the potential for injury to the bypass conduit and prolonging the procedure duration due to their cumbersome nature.
Innovation Solution
A unitary endoscopic vessel harvesting device with an elongated body, a tip featuring a visual cue, and a cutting unit comprising moveable and rotatable cutting portions for seamless dissection, sealing, and cutting of blood vessels, reducing the need for multiple device insertions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple tools are used for vessel harvesting, then the procedure can be completed with traditional methods, but the potential for injury to the bypass conduit increases and the procedure duration is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate harvesting tools into a single integrated endoscopic device that performs dissection, vessel isolation, and cutting functions simultaneously. This merging reduces the number of tool insertions and manipulations, thereby decreasing the potential for injury to the bypass conduit while maintaining procedural effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The endoscopic harvesting device is designed with multi-functional capabilities to perform various vessel harvesting operations (dissection, isolation, cutting) with a single instrument. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple specialized tools, reducing procedural complexity and the risk of vessel injury associated with repeated manipulations
2Productivity
If multiple tools are used for vessel harvesting, then traditional methods can be followed, but the procedure duration is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple harvesting functions into one endoscopic device, the procedure requires fewer tool exchanges and insertions, directly reducing procedure duration and improving surgical efficiency without sacrificing the ability to perform complete vessel harvesting
3Adaptability or versatility
If cutting portions are rotatable relative to the tip, then the device can harvest more tortuous vessels, but the complexity of the cutting unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting portions are designed to be rotatable relative to the tip, transforming the cutting unit from a static to a dynamic structure. This dynamic capability allows the device to adapt to tortuous vessel paths by rotating the cutting portions to the appropriate orientation, enhancing versatility while the modular design keeps the added complexity manageable
4Ease of operation
If a visual cue is added to the tip, then the orientation of cutting elements can be easily identified, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A visual cue (such as a colored mark or indicator) is added to the tip to indicate the orientation of the cutting elements. This simple visual enhancement improves ease of operation by allowing surgeons to quickly identify cutting element orientation without adding mechanical complexity, relying instead on an optical indicator
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 minimizes vessel manipulation, decreases the risk of injury, and shortens the procedure by allowing a single passage harvest, facilitating easier handling of more tortuous vessels.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member engaged with the cutting unit to bias at least one cutting portion toward the other cutting portion
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 2A
AI summary
Unitary endoscopic vessel harvesting devices with an elastic force are disclosed. In some embodiments, such devices comprise an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, a tip disposed at the distal end of the elongated body. The tip having a visual cue indicating a location of at least one cutting element extending from the elongated body.