Adjustable Muzzle Energy Medical Projectile Launcher

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical devices for firing projectiles into a target area on a living being are often specialized and lack versatility, limiting their application across different medical purposes such as endoscopic procedures and drug administration.

Innovation Solution

A medical device with a preselection mechanism to set desired muzzle energy, allowing for adjustable projectile launch energy levels, combined with an electromagnet-based launching mechanism and an optical recording system for precise target detection and trajectory prediction, enabling flexible and accurate projectile delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a firing device is optimized for a specific purpose, then the performance for that specific purpose is improved, but the versatility and applicability to other purposes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance for specific purposeVSAvoidapplicability to other purposes
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The firing device is designed with adjustable muzzle energy through a preselection device, allowing it to perform multiple functions across different medical applications. The device can be configured for various purposes including endoscopic uses, reflex triggering, and drug administration by adjusting the muzzle energy parameter, thereby achieving universality without sacrificing performance in any single application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Force

If maximum available muzzle energy is used, then the penetration and impact capability is improved, but the precision and control for targeted delivery deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepenetration and impact capabilityVSAvoidprecision for targeted delivery
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates a preselection device that allows dynamic adjustment of the muzzle energy level before firing. This enables the system to adapt the projectile's energy to match the specific requirements of different target areas and medical procedures, optimizing both penetration capability and precision control rather than using fixed maximum energy for all applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable muzzle energy is implemented, then the versatility and adaptability are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustable energy levelsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements adjustable muzzle energy by modifying the electrical parameters of the electromagnet device, specifically the voltage or current supplied to the coil. This parameter-based adjustment mechanism enables versatile energy control without requiring complex mechanical or structural modifications, thereby achieving adaptability with minimal increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 device allows for precise and versatile projectile delivery across various medical applications, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of procedures like drug administration and reflex triggering, while reducing manual intervention and improving the prediction of stimulation responses.

Implementation Method 1

a launching mechanism driven by an electromagnet device, by means of which the projectile can be acted upon mechanically and/or magnetically

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 2

at least one electrical parameter of the launching device can be set by means of the preselection device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical energy conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3696489B1Medical device and method for firing a projectile by said medical device
Publication Date: 2022.09.21 GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ UNIV HANNOVER
  • EP3696489B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3696489B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3696489B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a launching device for launching at least one projectile (1) from a projectile launching channel (30) of the launching device, wherein the launching device has a launching mechanism (2, 3, 6) driven by means of an electromagnetic device (2), by which the projectile (1) can be mechanically and/or magnetically actuated and launched through the projectile launching channel (30), characterized in that the launching device has a preselection device (7) by which a desired muzzle energy of a projectile (1) launched by means of the launching mechanism can be adjusted.