Angled Intraosseous Access Guidance for Pain and Backwalling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intraosseous access devices cause increased pain during infusion due to pressure in the medullary cavity, and there is a risk of backwalling where the needle penetrates the far wall of the bone cortex.
Innovation Solution
An angled intraosseous access system with a guide plate and guide block that aligns the needle at a predetermined angle relative to the medullary cavity, reducing pressure and mitigating backwalling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the needle is inserted perpendicular to the skin surface, then the insertion is simple and direct, but the medication directs towards smaller medullary cavity volumes causing increased pressure and patient pain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces angular orientation as a new dimension to the needle insertion process. By providing guide plates with specific angle markings (e.g., 30°, 45°, 60°) and using a protractor-like alignment system, the needle can be inserted at optimized angles rather than only perpendicular to the skin surface. This angular dimension directs medication flow towards larger medullary cavity volumes, reducing pressure and patient pain during infusion.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the needle is inserted at an optimized angle, then patient discomfort is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to guide plates and alignment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance system is segmented into separate, modular components: guide plates that can be attached to the driver assembly, angle markings on the protractor, and detachable alignment tools. This segmentation allows the complex angular alignment functionality to be added only when needed, rather than being integrated into the basic needle structure. The guide plates can be removed or adjusted, reducing complexity for simple cases while enabling optimized angles when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The protractor with angle markings serves as an intermediary tool between the needle insertion process and the desired angular orientation. Rather than requiring complex built-in mechanisms, the protractor provides a simple visual reference and alignment guide that facilitates correct angle insertion. This intermediary device bridges the gap between simple insertion and optimized angular placement without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If the needle traverses the entire medullary cavity, then access is achieved, but the risk of backwalling and penetrating the far wall increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary actions to prevent backwalling before it occurs. Depth markings on the needle and driver assembly provide advance visual indicators of the appropriate insertion depth. Stop mechanisms are pre-configured on the driver to automatically prevent over-penetration. These preliminary measures allow the operator to achieve reliable medullary cavity access while preventing the harmful effect of backwalling before it can occur.
Data Source
AI summary
An angled intraosseous access system includes a guide assembly including a guide block and a guide plate. The system can include a driver and a needle assembly rotatably coupled thereto. The guide assembly is configured to align the needle at a predetermined angle relative to the medullary cavity. Advantageously, the angled needle of the intraosseous access system can mitigate pain during infusion and mitigate backwalling.