Reusable Handle With Limited-Use Needle Electrode Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ablation devices with reusable and limited-use components face challenges in preventing reuse of needles after they become dull, bent, or deformed, leading to difficulties in placement and operation, necessitating the development of mechanisms to inhibit re-use and ensure safe and effective tissue treatment.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a reusable handle assembly with a limited-use needle electrode assembly, where the second electrical contact is movable between positions to facilitate or inhibit electrical coupling, using biasing members, support members, and retention elements that transition based on fluid application, heating, or chemical exposure to control the needle's functionality and prevent re-use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If needles are reused after becoming dull or deformed, then the device complexity is reduced by avoiding replacement mechanisms, but the reliability of tissue treatment deteriorates due to difficult placement and operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable needle electrodes that are discarded after a single use or limited number of uses. These needles are designed to be inexpensive enough to justify single-use disposal, ensuring reliability by preventing reuse of dull or deformed needles while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through a simple replaceable needle design rather than complex prevention mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates preliminary identification and verification mechanisms that check needle integrity and proper insertion before allowing energy delivery. This preliminary action ensures that only properly positioned, non-deformed needles can be activated, maintaining reliability while using a straightforward approach rather than continuous monitoring complexity
2Reliability
If mechanisms are added to prevent needle reuse, then the reliability of tissue treatment is improved by ensuring needle freshness, but the device complexity increases due to additional prevention mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable needle electrodes that are discarded after a single use or limited number of uses. These needles are designed to be inexpensive enough to justify single-use disposal, ensuring reliability by preventing reuse of dull or deformed needles while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through a simple replaceable needle design rather than complex prevention mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates self-identifying features on the needles and corresponding verification systems in the handle that automatically detect whether a needle is properly inserted and intact. This self-service approach allows the system to automatically prevent reuse of depleted needles without requiring complex external monitoring or manual verification procedures
3Ease of operation
If the second electrical contact remains continuously coupled, then the ease of operation is improved by maintaining constant electrical communication, but the reliability deteriorates by allowing reuse of depleted needles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic electrical coupling where the second electrical contact can transition between engaged and disengaged states. The contact is positioned to establish electrical communication when the needle is properly inserted, but is designed to become disengaged or non-conductive when the needle is removed or depleted, automatically preventing reuse while maintaining ease of operation during proper use
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the electrical connection status and needle integrity. The system provides feedback to indicate whether a needle is properly inserted and functional, and automatically interrupts electrical coupling when reuse is attempted, ensuring reliability while maintaining ease of operation through clear status indication and automatic protection
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An ablation device comprises a reusable handle assembly (410) including a first electrical contact (422); and a limited-use needle electrode assembly (450) releasably engagable with the reusable handle assembly. The limited-use needle electrode assembly includes a second electrical contact (472) configured to electrically couple to the first electrical contact to establish electrical communication between the reusable handle assembly and the limited-use needle electrode assembly. The second electrical contact is movable from a first position, wherein mechanical engagement of the reusable handle assembly and the limited-use needle electrode assembly is permitted, to a second position, wherein the second electrical contact (472) inhibits mechanical engagement of the reusable handle assembly (410) and the limited-use needle electrode assembly (450) to one another.