Anchor Delivery System with Replaceable Cartridge for Minimally Invasive Tissue Manipulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical procedures for treating conditions like Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and urinary incontinence often require invasive methods, leading to significant discomfort, prolonged recovery times, and the need for post-surgical urinary catheterization, while lacking immediate relief and being associated with adverse effects.
Innovation Solution
A minimally invasive anchor delivery system that includes a trigger-activated device for precise implantation of anchor assemblies within the body, allowing for the repositioning, lifting, or compressing of tissues, with features like a replaceable cartridge, needle actuation, and locking mechanisms for secure anchor placement, facilitating procedures without the need for surgical incisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional surgical procedures are used to treat BPH and urinary incontinence, then effective treatment is achieved, but significant discomfort, prolonged recovery times, and need for post-surgical urinary catheterization occur
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into modular components including a replaceable cartridge containing anchor assemblies, a delivery shaft, and a handle assembly with trigger mechanism. This segmentation allows the anchors to be delivered in discrete units through a minimally invasive approach, avoiding the need for extensive surgical incisions and reducing intraoperative trauma while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
A trigger mechanism acts as an intermediary between the operator and the anchor deployment system. The trigger activates a cam mechanism that sequentially deploys anchor assemblies through the delivery shaft, enabling precise control of the minimally invasive procedure and reducing trauma to surrounding tissues while ensuring reliable anchor placement.
2Reliability
If traditional surgical procedures are used, then treatment is effective, but recovery times are prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor assemblies are extracted and delivered through a catheter-like delivery shaft inserted via a small puncture in the urethra, rather than requiring open surgical incisions. This extraction approach minimizes tissue damage and allows for rapid recovery while maintaining the effectiveness of the treatment through secure anchor placement and tissue approximation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a reusable anchor delivery system is designed, then versatility and cost-effectiveness improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a reusable handle assembly with trigger mechanism and a replaceable cartridge containing anchor assemblies. This segmentation reduces overall device complexity by allowing the complex trigger mechanism to remain separate from the consumable anchors, while still enabling versatility through the ability to load different anchor configurations in the cartridge for various medical applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle assembly with trigger mechanism is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate different cartridge configurations and anchor assembly types. This multi-functionality allows a single reusable handle to perform various surgical tasks (delivering different anchor configurations, tensions, and anchor types) while maintaining relatively simple device architecture through standardized interfaces.
4Manufacturing precision
If precise anchor implantation is achieved through trigger-activated mechanism, then procedural accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism serves as an intermediary that translates simple user input into precise mechanical action. The trigger activates a cam mechanism that controls the sequential deployment of anchor assemblies, providing procedural accuracy through mechanical advantage while keeping the overall device relatively simple by using well-established mechanical principles rather than complex electronic or automated systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for treatment of body tissue, comprising an anchor assembly and a delivery device. The anchor assembly includes a first component and a second component. The delivery device includes a needle assembly, a needle deploy actuator (108), a spool assembly (120) controlling the position of the needle assembly and a retract lever (112). The actuator accomplishes automated deployment of the needle assembly and the lever accomplishes manual withdrawal of the needle assembly.