Waveguide Lock and Counterbalance for Surgical Tremor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current waveguide conduits for optical radiation in minimally invasive surgical procedures face challenges with tremor amplification and hand fatigue, leading to reduced precision and control, especially with longer waveguides, due to variable gripping forces and material degradation in existing elastic compression grippers.
Innovation Solution
A waveguide conduit with a spring-biased collet structure lock mechanism that has a locked and unlocked state, featuring a collet with tapered surfaces and cantilevered arms for secure waveguide retention, along with a counterbalance portion to enhance ergonomic control and reduce hand fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elastic compression grippers are used to secure waveguides, then waveguide retention is achieved, but gripping force variability and material degradation occur leading to reduced precision and control
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide conduit is designed as a disposable single-use component, eliminating the need for reusable elastic compression grippers that suffer from material degradation. This ensures consistent gripping performance throughout the procedure without the reliability issues of reusable elastic materials
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the elastic compression mechanism with a rigid mechanical locking structure integrated into the conduit. This substitution eliminates the variability inherent in elastic materials while maintaining secure waveguide retention through deterministic mechanical engagement
2Length of moving object
If longer waveguides are used to access distant regions, then surgical access is improved, but tremor amplification and hand fatigue increase reducing control precision
Solution Approach 1:
A counterbalance portion is added to the waveguide conduit to offset the weight and length of the extended waveguide. This counterbalancing reduces tremor amplification and hand fatigue, maintaining surgical control precision even with longer waveguides used for distant surgical access
3Productivity
If waveguide conduits are made reusable for cost savings, then operational cost is reduced, but cleaning and sterilization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide conduit is designed as a disposable single-use component that is discarded after one use. This eliminates all cleaning and sterilization processes while maintaining cost efficiency, as the low cost of the disposable conduit is less than the labor and equipment costs of sterilization
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 solution provides reliable, precise control and minimizes tremor and hand fatigue by ensuring consistent waveguide retention without affecting optical performance, allowing easy engagement and disengagement, and facilitating cleaning and sterilization.
Implementation Method 1
A waveguide conduit with a spring-biased collet structure lock mechanism
Implementation Method 2
featuring a collet with tapered surfaces and cantilevered arms for secure waveguide retention
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6B
AI summary
An optical radiation delivery structure including a waveguide conduit having a surgical access portion and a handle portion. The handle portion includes a gripping portion and a waveguide lock, which is configured to have only a locked state and an unlocked state. In some embodiments, the handle portion includes a gripping portion and a counterbalance region, such that a center of mass of the waveguide conduit is disposed towards a proximal end of the waveguide conduit.