Balloon Applicator Removal via Segmented Shaft Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing balloon applicators for intraoperative radiation therapy face challenges in easily removing the balloon from the tissue cavity without causing tissue trauma and may become stuck due to defects in the tube system, leading to unnecessary surgical intervention.
Innovation Solution
A balloon applicator with a shaft having a predetermined breaking point and a tool for relative movement between shaft sections allows the balloon to be placed around or against the shaft, enabling easy removal and deflation, even in case of tube system defects, through a combination of rotational and linear movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the balloon is made of non-stretchable material to maintain discrete shape and size, then the balloon shape and size are maintained, but the balloon forms folds that are difficult to remove from the tissue cavity
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is divided into a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the balloon to be folded around the shaft during removal by creating relative movement between the two shaft portions, resolving the contradiction between maintaining balloon shape stability and enabling easy removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft structure transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic one where the first and second shaft portions can move relative to each other. This dynamic capability enables the balloon to be folded around the shaft during removal while maintaining its discrete shape during irradiation, thus resolving the contradiction between shape stability and removal ease.
2Ease of operation
If the balloon is pulled through tissue without folding around the shaft, then removal is simpler, but tissue trauma and damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the shaft into two movable portions, the invention enables the balloon to fold around the shaft during removal. This folding action reduces the profile of the balloon applicator, allowing it to pass through tissue channels with minimal trauma while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The balloon acts as a flexible shell that can be folded around the shaft. This flexibility allows the balloon to conform to the shaft during removal, reducing the overall size of the applicator and minimizing tissue trauma while maintaining ease of operation.
3Reliability
If the tube system has a defect preventing balloon deflation, then the balloon becomes stuck in the tissue cavity, but surgical removal creates unnecessary stress for the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention prepares for potential tube system failures by designing a removal mechanism that does not depend on balloon deflation. The movable shaft portions enable the balloon to be folded and removed even when the balloon remains inflated, preventing the balloon from becoming stuck and avoiding the need for surgical removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention provides a backup removal mechanism that cushions against the harmful effect of tube system defects. By enabling mechanical folding of the balloon around the movable shaft portions, the system ensures successful removal even when the deflation system fails, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving ease of operation.
Data Source
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
A balloon applicator (1) for irradiating a cavity within living tissue is provided, comprising a double-lumen shaft (2) and a balloon (3) connected to the shaft (2) at a proximal (4) and a distal (5) point, enabling movement of a first section of the shaft (2a) relative to a second section of the shaft (2b). Additionally, a tool (30) is provided, which can be inserted into a lumen of the shaft (7) and is designed to effect this relative movement. Furthermore, a system consisting of the balloon applicator and tool (40) is provided.