Adjustable Handheld Electroporation Device Needle Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electroporation devices lack a reliable mechanism for adjusting the insertion depth of needles and preventing misalignment during tissue treatment, which can affect the efficacy of the treatment process.
Innovation Solution
A handheld device with an adjustable mechanism that allows for axial sliding and rotational positioning of a cup-shaped body relative to the cylindrical end portion, enabling precise adjustment of needle length and reducing misalignment through a combination of grooves and stop elements for multiple stable positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If no adjustment mechanism is provided, then the device structure remains simple, but the needle insertion depth cannot be controlled precisely and misalignment occurs during treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The cup-shaped body is made rotatable relative to the cylindrical end portion, transforming a static needle position into a dynamic adjustable position. The rotation mechanism allows the needle insertion depth to be changed by rotating the cup-shaped body to different angular positions, where stop elements engage with grooves to lock at predetermined depths, thus achieving precise control without complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into discrete components: the cup-shaped body with grooves, stop elements, and a rotation mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function - grooves guide the adjustment, stop elements lock positions, and rotation provides the adjustment motion - collectively achieving precise needle depth control while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If a rotation and sliding mechanism is added for position adjustment, then needle insertion depth can be precisely controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism merges multiple functions into a single integrated system: the cup-shaped body simultaneously serves as a structural holder, a rotatable adjustment component, and a positioning mechanism through its grooves and stop elements. This merging allows precise control of needle protrusion length without adding separate complex adjustment devices, maintaining structural compactness while achieving the desired precision.
3Reliability
If multiple stable positions are provided through grooves and stop elements, then misalignment is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grooves and stop elements are designed to self-align and self-lock during rotation. The stop elements automatically engage with the grooves at predetermined angular positions without requiring external alignment tools or complex assembly procedures. This self-service mechanism ensures reliable alignment stability while keeping the manufacturing process simple, as the components can be assembled by straightforward insertion and rotation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Hand held adjustable device comprising: a grip (2) provided with an end portion (5); a plurality of needles (7) which extend axially from the end portion (5) and are made of electrically conductive material, and a device for adjusting (10) the insertion depth of the needles in a tissue in which a cup-shaped body (12) borne by said end portion (5) of the grip is provided with an end wall (13) having holes (14) for the passage of said needles (7). A system for adjustment of the relative position between the cup-shaped body (12) and the end portion (5) provides an axial sliding of the cup-shaped body (12) with respect to the end portion (5) to adjust the length of the portion of the needles (7) protruding from said end wall (13) and therefore the insertion depth in the tissue.