Enhanced Nested Cannula System for Minimized Tissue Damage and Improved Surgical Outcomes
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
The present inventive concept relates to an improved nested cannula system that enables surgeons to access subject areas of a patient's body with reduced tissue damage and enhanced surgical precision.
Background and Problem Solved
The original nested cannula system, as described in the original patent, provided a solution for surgeons to access subject areas of a patient's body. However, the system had limitations, including the potential for tissue damage and the need for intermediate cannulas. The present inventive concept addresses these limitations by providing a system that minimizes tissue damage, enhances surgical precision, and improves patient safety.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The enhanced nested cannula system comprises a plurality of cannulas of varying sizes, each including a locking mechanism configured to interlock with other cannulas. The system enables surgeons to use the smallest cannula required for a procedure, thereby reducing tissue damage and promoting faster patient recovery. The system also includes a handle component for use with each cannula individually, allowing for efficient switching between cannulas of different sizes without requiring intermediate cannulas. Additionally, the system includes sensors to detect and alert surgeons of potential tissue damage or other safety risks during surgical procedures.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The present inventive concept is novel and non-obvious in that it provides a system that minimizes tissue damage, enhances surgical precision, and improves patient safety through the use of a nested cannula system with improved concentricity, sensors for detecting safety risks, and the ability to skip unneeded cannula sizes when switching between cannulas.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept may include varying the design of the locking mechanisms, using different materials for the cannulas, or integrating additional features such as irrigation or suction systems. Variations may also include adapting the system for use in different surgical procedures or anatomical locations.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The enhanced nested cannula system has significant commercial potential in the medical device industry, particularly in the fields of orthopedic, neurosurgical, and cardiovascular surgery. The system's ability to minimize tissue damage, enhance surgical precision, and improve patient safety makes it an attractive solution for hospitals, surgical centers, and medical professionals.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A61 | A61B17/3439 |
| A | A61 | A61B2017/347 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Surgical instrumentation, specifically minimally invasive surgical access systems and medical device design with a focus on nested cannula technologies for surgical procedures
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A biomedical engineer or surgical instrument designer with expertise in medical device design, knowledge of surgical access techniques, understanding of mechanical interlocking mechanisms, and familiarity with minimally invasive surgical technologies
Obviousness Rationale
A person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the PTD's variations represent predictable extensions of the source patent's nested cannula system, utilizing standard design optimization techniques common in surgical instrumentation. The additional features like safety sensors and improved handle designs are logical incremental improvements that would be apparent to a skilled practitioner seeking to enhance surgical access technologies. The core nested cannula concept remains fundamentally consistent with the source patent's teachings, with the PTD introducing marginal technical variations that do not represent a non-obvious innovation.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,217 |
|---|---|
| Title | Nested cannula system |
| Assignee(s) | Acumed LLC |