Articulating Clearing Tool for Epidural Space Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tools used for clearing the epidural space for medical lead implantation, such as rigid and soft plastic tools, face issues like inadequate deflection angles, pressure on the spinal cord, and difficulty in navigating through the epidural space due to their rigidity or lack of stiffness, which can lead to discomfort and potential paralysis, and are less effective in clearing blockages as paddle leads become wider.

Innovation Solution

A clearing tool with multiple links that can be adjusted and locked to create a desired deflection angle, allowing for controlled insertion and clearance within the epidural space, utilizing a wire under tension to secure the links and enable precise alignment and clearance without undue pressure on the spinal cord.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid plastic tool is used to clear the epidural space, then the tool maintains its shape and structural integrity, but it creates pressure points on the spinal cord and causes discomfort or potential paralysis

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidpressure on spinal cord

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The tool is divided into multiple segments or links that can articulate relative to each other, allowing the tool to flex and conform to the epidural space geometry without creating pressure points on the spinal cord

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tool transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamic, articulating structure that can adapt its shape during insertion and clearing operations, reducing harmful pressure on the spinal cord while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid plastic tool is used to clear the epidural space, then the tool maintains structural integrity, but it has less than adequate clearing ability for blockages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidclearing ability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The articulating links can be manipulated to create specific angles and configurations that improve the tool's ability to navigate and clear blockages while maintaining structural integrity through the connection between links

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tool allows changes in geometric parameters (angles between links) to optimize clearing ability for different blockage configurations while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a soft plastic tool is used to clear the epidural space, then the tool reduces pressure on the spinal cord, but it deflects in undesired directions and lacks stiffness to track in the ideal direction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure on spinal cordVSAvoidtracking ability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The articulating links provide controlled flexibility that reduces pressure on the spinal cord while the connection between links maintains sufficient stiffness for tracking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The angle between links can be adjusted to optimize the balance between flexibility (reducing pressure) and stiffness (improving tracking ability) for different operational requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If the paddle lead width is increased to improve stimulation coverage, then the stimulation effectiveness is improved, but the likelihood of snagging blockages in the epidural space increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestimulation effectivenessVSAvoidsnagging blockages

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The articulating clearing tool can navigate around blockages more effectively, allowing wider paddle leads to be inserted without snagging, thereby maintaining stimulation effectiveness while reducing insertion complications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10206707B2Utilizing multiple links to achieve a desired tool deflection angle when clearing an epidural space

Publication Date: 2019.02.19 MEDTRONIC INC

AI summary

An epidural space is cleared of fat and scar tissue in preparation for implantation of a medical lead by utilizing a clearing tool. The clearing tool has multiple links that allow the creation of a deflection angle. A wire passes through the links and once the links are positioned with the desired deflection angle, tension is placed on the wire to lock the links into the current position. The clearing tool is inserted through a window into the epidural space, and once the tension is applied to the wire, the clearing tool becomes rigid to allow advancement of the clearing tool within the epidural space. The clearing tool is then removed from the epidural space, and the medical lead is inserted through the window and cleared epidural space until reaching the target site.