Wireless Carpal Tunnel Tool with Integrated Camera
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional carpal tunnel release (CTR) surgical tools are cumbersome, expensive, and difficult to clean and sterilize, often requiring separate endoscopes and multiple components that complicate surgery and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
A wireless, cableless, and battery-powered CTR tool with integrated optical components, including LEDs and a camera, that broadcasts video images in real time to an external display, allowing for modular design with easily replaceable parts and autoclave-compatible materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional CTR tools use separate endoscopes and cables for video capability, then video transmission is reliable, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the video camera, LED illumination, and wireless transmitter directly into the CTR tool housing, eliminating separate endoscope and cable components. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining video transmission reliability through integrated power and data pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical cable connections with wireless video transmission capability, substituting physical cable interfaces with wireless communication protocols. This eliminates cable management complexity while maintaining reliable video transmission through established wireless medical communication standards.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional CTR tools use multiple separate components, then functionality is comprehensive, but ease of manufacture and sterilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a modular blade tip assembly that can be easily replaced, allowing the main tool body to be sterilized as a single unit while enabling customization of blade tips for different surgical needs. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing and sterilization processes while maintaining functional versatility through interchangeable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated tool design combines cutting, illumination, and video capabilities in a single sterilizable unit, making the device universally applicable for complete CTR procedures. The modular blade tips provide versatility for different surgical requirements while the main body remains a universal platform.
3Ease of operation
If CTR tools use integrated optical components with wireless capability, then ease of operation improves, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pulsed LED illumination rather than continuous lighting, activating lights only when needed for specific surgical views. This periodic activation reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining adequate illumination during critical cutting phases, improving ease of operation without excessive energy drain on the battery.
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 tool simplifies CTR surgery by eliminating cumbersome cables, reducing costs through modular and easily replaceable parts, and facilitating sterilization with autoclave-compatible materials, thereby improving surgical efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The tool includes a plurality of light sources, each comprising a light emitting diode (LED)
Implementation Method 2
The tool includes a camera positioned within the cannula and configured to receive images of the patient
Data Source
AI summary
A Carpal Tunnel Release (CTR) surgical tool is disclosed. The CRT tool is useable to perform CTR surgically endoscopically through an incision in the patient, and includes dedicated optical components within the tool. The tool also includes wireless communication means to broadcast video images from the camera to an external display without the use of any cabling. The CTR tool is modular, thus allowing different portions of the tool to be replaced, including a blade tip assembly. The CTR tool is comprised of components manufactured of materials that can be cleaned and sterilized using an autoclave alone, which allows the tool to be more easily and cheaply used in subsequent surgeries, and in contexts that may lack the resources and support traditionally necessary for surgery. The CTR system may simply comprise of the tool (and its cheaper replacement parts), a monitor having wireless capability, and a simple autoclave.