Artificial Venous Training Device for Sclerotherapy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a high level of difficulty in accurately inserting a fine needle into a narrow blood vessel during sclerotherapy procedures, necessitating effective training methods for medical professionals, with existing training often relying on practicing on living patients or observing demonstrations.
Innovation Solution
A training device comprising an artificial venous structure with linked hollow artificial venous structures, a foam pad to simulate skin, and a polyurethane skin layer, allowing for the simulation of vein injection and providing visual feedback on successful needle placement through fluid displacement into a connected reservoir.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hands-on training is provided on living human patients, then medical personnel can gain practical experience in needle insertion, but patient safety and ethical concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a realistic copy of human skin and vein structures using foam materials with embedded hollow channels. This artificial model replicates the visual appearance, texture, and anatomical relationships of real veins, allowing trainees to practice needle insertion techniques without using actual patients. The copy includes subcutaneous fat layer simulation and vein depth variation to provide authentic training conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The training device segments the human body model into distinct layers: skin surface, subcutaneous fat layer, and vein structures at different depths. This segmentation allows independent control and observation of each layer's properties, enabling trainees to understand anatomical relationships and practice appropriate needle penetration depths without risking patient harm.
2Manufacturing precision
If a fine needle is inserted into a narrow blood vessel, then accurate vein therapy can be administered, but the difficulty of accurate placement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial vein structures are filled with colored fluid that becomes visible through the translucent foam skin and fat layers. This color indication allows trainees to visually locate vein positions and confirm successful needle insertion by observing fluid displacement or color changes at the insertion site, significantly easing the difficulty of accurate placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary visual indicator system using colored fluid within the artificial veins. This intermediary provides real-time feedback to trainees about needle placement accuracy, acting as a mediator between the needle tip position and the trainee's perception, thereby improving placement accuracy without increasing operational complexity.
3Loss of information
If fluid is injected into the artificial venous structure, then visual feedback on successful injection is provided, but fluid may be absorbed by the foam pad if needle is misplaced
Solution Approach 1:
The foam material is engineered with differentiated local properties: the skin and fat layers have controlled porosity to allow fluid passage only when a needle correctly penetrates the vein, while misplaced injections into non-vein areas result in fluid absorption without visual feedback. This local quality differentiation provides clear feedback on injection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements immediate visual feedback through colored fluid displacement observable through the translucent foam layers. When fluid is correctly injected into an artificial vein, the color change or fluid movement provides real-time confirmation of successful placement. Misplaced injections are indicated by fluid absorption without color change, creating a clear feedback mechanism that reduces information loss about injection accuracy.
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
Enables safe and effective training for medical professionals by simulating vein injection, providing immediate visual feedback on successful needle placement and preventing fluid absorption by the foam pad if the needle is misplaced, thus enhancing the learning experience without using living patients.
Implementation Method 1
providing visual feedback on successful needle placement through fluid displacement into a connected reservoir
Data Source
AI summary
A training method for sclerotherapy. The method includes directing a needle tip into communication with an artificial venous structure, dispensing a fluid through the needle to force fluid from the artificial venous structure and detecting the fluid that is displaced from the artificial venous structure.