Aspiration Flow Sensor Haptic Feedback Thrombectomy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical aspiration systems rely on visual cues to indicate fluid flow changes during thrombectomy, which can be challenging in dimly lit environments and divert the clinician's attention from the patient, and lack effective tactile feedback for fluid flow detection.
Innovation Solution
A fluid flow sensor system integrated with a catheter that generates flow-induced vibrations through a flow oscillator, providing haptic feedback to the clinician about fluid flow presence, absence, or changes, allowing for tactile detection of fluid flow without visual confirmation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual cues are used to indicate fluid flow changes, then flow detection is possible, but clinician attention is diverted from the patient and procedural efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual detection mechanisms with a haptic feedback system that uses mechanical vibrations to indicate fluid flow. The flow sensor generates tactile vibrations through a piezoelectric element or similar mechanism, allowing clinicians to detect flow changes through touch rather than sight, thus eliminating the need to divert attention from the patient to visual displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a haptic intermediary system that translates fluid flow information into tactile vibrations. This intermediary mechanism (the flow sensor and vibration generator) acts as a mediator between the fluid flow and the clinician's sensory system, providing indirect but effective flow detection through the sense of touch rather than direct visual observation.
2Loss of information
If visual cues are used for fluid flow detection, then flow information is provided, but the system fails to provide effective tactile feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes visual information transmission with mechanical vibration transmission. Instead of displaying flow data visually, the system uses a piezoelectric element or vibratory mechanism to convert flow information into tactile vibrations that can be felt by the clinician, thereby providing effective tactile feedback while maintaining complete flow information transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent directly applies mechanical vibration as the feedback mechanism. The flow sensor generates vibrations whose characteristics (frequency, amplitude, or presence/absence) correspond to fluid flow conditions, enabling tactile perception of flow information without requiring visual displays or complex interfaces.
3Measurement precision
If visual monitoring is required for fluid flow, then flow changes can be detected, but procedural safety decreases in dimly lit environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual monitoring systems with a haptic-based flow detection system that operates independently of lighting conditions. By using mechanical vibrations to indicate flow changes, the system ensures reliable flow monitoring and procedural safety even in dimly lit or dark environments where visual cues would be insufficient or misleading.
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 the clinician to detect fluid flow through the catheter via haptic feedback, improving procedural efficiency and safety by maintaining focus on the patient during thrombectomy procedures, even in challenging lighting conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a flow oscillator configured to oscillate flow of the fluid through the fluid flow sensor to generate flow-induced vibrations
Implementation Method 2
a flow diverting portion configured to oscillate the flow of the fluid between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet to generate an oscillating pressure differential
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, an aspiration system a catheter and a fluid flow sensor. The fluid flow sensor includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a flow oscillator. The fluid inlet is configured to receive fluid from the catheter. The flow oscillator configured to oscillate flow of the fluid through the fluid flow sensor to generate flow-induced vibrations. The fluid outlet is configured to discharge the fluid.