Blood Vessel Marking Stencil System for Accurate Graft Guide Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for applying reference markings on blood vessels during cardiac bypass graft surgery involve direct handling, which can cause damage and inaccuracies due to rubbing and smudging, leading to potential endothelial damage and poor line quality.
Innovation Solution
A vessel marking system using a preparation plate and stencil plate with a dye applicator that applies a metered dye mist directly onto the blood vessel, minimizing contact and ensuring accurate, crisp markings without damaging the endothelium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a pen filled with methylene blue dye is manually used to mark the vessel, then the guide line can be applied, but the direct manipulation causes harsh rubbing that damages the endothelium and creates smudged, inaccurate lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a stencil plate as an intermediary tool between the dye applicator and the blood vessel. The stencil plate features a precision stencil opening that guides dye application, eliminating the need for direct pen contact with the vessel while ensuring accurate guide line placement. This intermediary device resolves the contradiction by mediating the marking process to prevent endothelial damage while maintaining line accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical rubbing action of a pen with a controlled dye delivery system. Instead of mechanically abrading the vessel wall with a pen tip, the system uses a dye applicator that delivers dye through a stencil opening, substituting mechanical contact with a controlled fluid application method that avoids endothelial damage while achieving precise marking.
2Ease of manufacture
If direct manual marking is used, then the marking process is simple, but the line quality is poor and inaccurate due to rubbing and smudging
Solution Approach 1:
The stencil plate serves as an intermediary that simplifies the marking process while improving precision. By providing a fixed stencil opening that guides dye application, the system eliminates the complexity of freehand pen marking and prevents smudging, achieving both ease of use and high line accuracy simultaneously.
3Ease of operation
If the pen is rubbed against the vessel to apply the line, then the guide line can be applied, but abrasion occurs which damages the endothelium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mechanical rubbing action with a controlled dye delivery mechanism. The dye applicator delivers dye through a stencil opening without requiring abrasive contact with the vessel wall, replacing the harmful mechanical action with a non-invasive fluid application method that maintains ease of operation while eliminating abrasion damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The stencil plate acts as an intermediary that enables easy dye application without direct pen contact. The stencil opening guides the dye flow to the vessel surface, allowing smooth, non-abrasive marking while preventing endothelial damage that would occur with direct pen rubbing.
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 system significantly reduces handling and abrasion of the blood vessel, improving the accuracy and quality of the guide line applied, thereby reducing the risk of endothelial damage and ensuring precise placement during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
A dye applicator is configured to direct a metered amount of the dye through the opening and onto the exposed portion of the blood vessel
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for marking a blood vessel for use as a bypass graft in a patient includes a preparation plate for supporting an isolated blood vessel that is in a state for anastomosing to the patient. A stencil plate is configured for overlying the blood vessel and preparation plate, wherein the stencil plate has an opening adapted to expose a portion of the blood vessel to a dye applied through the opening. The stencil plate around the opening is adapted to shield the blood vessel from the dye. A dye applicator is configured to direct a metered amount of the dye through the opening and onto the exposed portion of the blood vessel, preferably as a mist. Preferably, the opening is a lineal slot for creating a guide line extending longitudinally along an outer wall of the blood vessel.