NeuroPunch

The first step to this procedure is to create an entry, where a layer of bone separates the nasal cavity from the brain. As part of this step, the skull base is shaved to a thin layer. The final pieces of the bone are removed with an instrument called surgical punch. This instrument is equipped with a straight, fixed shaft, and essentially chips away the bone, bite by bite. With every “bite”, the instrument has to be retracted and the bit of bone has to be removed from the tip of the instrument. This is cumbersome and adds unnecessary risk, as the surgery takes longer, and the risk of infection increases with every re-entry.

Additionally, the fixed shaft forces the surgeon to rotate the full instrument constantly, in order to align the tip with the bone. This causes collisions with the other instruments, like the endoscope.

The DEAM approach in this project resulted in the optimal combination of technical solutions as well as increased ergonomics and usability. The new system offers the opportunity to store the bits of excised bone inside the shaft, eliminating the need to remove the instrument from the nose for every bite. Additionally, it now incorporates a rotatable shaft, eliminating the need to move the full handle in order the align the shaft as desired. How to use the new design is illustrated in Figure 2.

The NeuroPunch is a hybrid system; the shaft is disposable, so the bits of bone do not have to be removed after every use and sterility is guaranteed (Figure 3), whereas the handle is reusable, in order to decrease the medical waste produced during the procedure.