Automatic Tamping Mechanism for Vascular Closure Sealing Plugs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vascular closure devices require manual tamping of sealing plugs after sheath removal, which can lead to partial sealing and bleeding due to potential retraction of the plug during sheath removal.
Innovation Solution
A tissue puncture closure device with an automatic tamping mechanism using a planetary gearset that changes gear ratios in response to torque changes, allowing for automatic tamping of the sealing plug as the device is retracted, ensuring proper placement and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual tamping is used after sheath removal, then the sealing plug can be placed at the tissue puncture site, but the sealing plug may retract during sheath removal causing incomplete sealing and bleeding
Solution Approach 1:
The tamping tube is pre-loaded within the sheath during device assembly. When the sheath is removed, the pre-positioned tamping tube automatically engages with the sealing plug and delivers the tamping force without requiring separate manual manipulation. This preliminary positioning eliminates the risk of plug retraction during sheath removal while streamlining the tamping operation into a single integrated action.
Solution Approach 2:
The tamping tube serves as an intermediary mechanism between the sheath removal action and the sealing plug placement. Instead of directly manipulating the sealing plug after sheath removal, the tamping tube mediates the transition by being propelled forward by the sheath removal motion and automatically engaging the plug to deliver controlled tamping force, ensuring reliable sealing while simplifying the operator's task.
2Ease of operation
If the sheath is removed prior to tamping, then the tamping tube becomes accessible for manual grasping, but the sealing plug may be retracted from the tissue puncture hindering subsequent placement
Solution Approach 1:
The tamping tube is pre-positioned within the sheath during device assembly, so that when the sheath is removed, the tamping tube is already in the correct position and orientation to immediately engage with the sealing plug. This eliminates the need for separate manual grasping and positioning operations, maintaining precise plug placement while making the tamping tube accessible through the sheath removal action itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheath removal action is merged with the tamping tube deployment and sealing plug engagement into a single integrated motion. As the sheath is withdrawn, it simultaneously propels the pre-loaded tamping tube forward and allows the sealing plug to be automatically engaged and tamponed, combining multiple functions into one operation that maintains both accessibility and placement precision.
3Reliability
If automatic tamping is implemented, then complete sealing is ensured, but the device complexity increases with automatic gear ratio changing transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic tamping mechanism uses the sheath removal action itself as the power source, converting the operator's withdrawal motion into the tamping force through the pre-loaded spring and gear transmission. The system serves itself by automatically engaging the tamping tube with the sealing plug at the appropriate moment, eliminating the need for separate manual tamping operations while maintaining reliable complete sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The gear transmission mechanism automatically changes gear ratios in response to torque variations during the tamping process. When the sealing plug encounters resistance (such as passing through a small tip), the torque sensor detects the change and the transmission adjusts the gear ratio to provide appropriate mechanical advantage, ensuring complete sealing while managing the complexity through intelligent parameter adaptation.
4Manufacturing precision
If the sealing plug passes through a small tip, then proper placement is achieved, but torque increases requiring automatic gear ratio change
Solution Approach 1:
The torque sensor provides feedback on the torque requirements during the sealing plug passage through the small tip. This feedback signal is fed to the automatic transmission mechanism, which adjusts the gear ratio in real-time to provide appropriate mechanical advantage. This feedback loop ensures accurate plug placement through the constraining tip while automatically managing the torque requirements through intelligent transmission adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission mechanism dynamically adjusts gear ratios in response to changing torque conditions during the sealing plug passage. Rather than using a fixed gear ratio, the system adapts the mechanical advantage on-the-fly based on the resistance encountered, allowing the sealing plug to pass through the small tip with appropriate force while managing the torque requirements through dynamic transmission reconfiguration.
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
The automatic tamping mechanism ensures a complete seal at the tissue puncture site, reducing the risk of bleeding and improving the deployment of sealing plugs, even in conditions where manual tamping is challenging.
Implementation Method 1
The automatic gear ratio changing transmission may comprise a planetary gearset. The planetary gearset may comprise a ring gear, a sun gear, at least two planet gears, and a planet carrier.
Implementation Method 2
The automatic gear ratio changing transmission is capable of automatically changing gear ratios in response to changes in torque.
Implementation Method 3
The planetary gearset may include a clutch having a predetermined torque breakdown value locking the ring gear to the planet carrier.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug are disclosed. The methods and apparatus provide for automatic tamping of the sealing plug. In addition, torque required to tamp the sealing plug is automatically sensed and gear ratios of an automatic tamping device are automatically changed in response to sensed changes in torque. A planetary transmission may be used to automatically change gear ratios in response to the changes in torque.