Articulating Stylet Segmentation for Airway Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Tracheal intubation procedures face challenges in quickly and accurately placing endotracheal tubes due to interference with the patient's breathing, leading to potential tissue injury or death if oxygenation is delayed, and complications arise during endotracheal tube exchange procedures such as tracheal and lung trauma and accidental removal of the stylet.
Innovation Solution
An articulating stylet with a shaft comprising a distal and proximal portion, where the tip portion is more flexible than the body portion, and a control wire to deform the tip, allowing precise guidance of the endotracheal tube into the trachea, and a method involving a laryngoscope for visualization and control of the stylet's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid stylet is used to provide structural support for the endotracheal tube, then the stylet maintains its shape and provides stability, but it causes trauma to the patient's airway and is difficult to control precisely
Solution Approach 1:
The stylet is divided into multiple segments with different flexibility characteristics. The proximal portion has greater flexibility while the distal portion maintains rigidity, allowing the stylet to navigate the airway safely while providing sufficient structural support for tube placement.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the stylet have different mechanical properties. The proximal portion is designed with greater flexibility to conform to airway anatomy and reduce trauma, while the distal portion maintains rigidity to provide stable guidance and support for the endotracheal tube.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a flexible stylet is used to reduce airway trauma, then the stylet conforms to the airway, but it lacks the rigidity to provide precise guidance and control
Solution Approach 1:
The stylet is segmented into proximal and distal portions with different flexibility characteristics, allowing the proximal portion to conform to the airway while the distal portion maintains rigidity for precise tip positioning and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The stylet exhibits local quality variations where the proximal portion has greater flexibility to reduce trauma while the distal portion maintains rigidity for precise guidance, achieving both safety and precision simultaneously.
3Ease of operation
If the stylet tip is made rigid for precise control, then the stylet can be directed accurately, but it causes more trauma during insertion and articulation
Solution Approach 1:
The stylet is divided into proximal and distal portions where the proximal portion has greater flexibility to reduce trauma during insertion while the distal portion maintains rigidity for precise control and articulation of the tip.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the stylet have different mechanical properties: the proximal portion is more flexible to minimize trauma during insertion and articulation, while the distal portion is more rigid to provide precise control and directional accuracy.
4Ease of operation
If the entire stylet is made uniformly flexible, then the stylet is easy to insert, but it cannot maintain its shape for accurate tube placement
Solution Approach 1:
The stylet is segmented into proximal and distal portions with different flexibility characteristics, allowing the proximal portion to be easily inserted while the distal portion maintains shape stability for accurate tube placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The stylet has local quality variations where the proximal portion is more flexible to facilitate easy insertion while the distal portion is more rigid to maintain shape stability and provide accurate guidance for tube placement.
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
Facilitates quick, accurate, and safe placement of endotracheal tubes and reduces trauma during intubation and exchange procedures by enabling precise control and visualization, minimizing the risk of complications and ensuring timely oxygenation.
Implementation Method 1
the tip portion including a tip and having greater flexibility than the body portion; and an expanding connection joining the distal shaft portion to the proximal shaft portion
Data Source
AI summary
An articulating stylet usable with a tracheal intubation system is disclosed. Methods for using the articulating stylet and systems that incorporate the articulating stylet are also disclosed. In some examples, a stylet adapted for mounting an endotracheal tube comprises a shaft and a control wire. The shaft comprises a distal shaft portion, a proximal shaft portion, and an expanding connection joining the distal shaft portion to the proximal shaft portion. The proximal shaft portion has a body portion and a tip portion. The tip portion includes a tip and has greater flexibility than the body portion. The control wire is at least partially disposed within both the distal shaft portion and the proximal shaft portion and is configured to cause the tip portion of the proximal shaft portion to deform.