Bronchial Flow Control Device Loading Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating pulmonary diseases like COPD struggle to efficiently manage airflow by properly compressing and loading bronchial flow control devices into delivery catheters, which is crucial for isolating diseased lung regions and improving exhalation dynamics.
Innovation Solution
A loading assembly comprising a funnel housing and a puller housing is used to compress and load bronchial flow control devices into a container or catheter, allowing for precise regulation of fluid flow and potential collapse of lung regions by gradually reducing the device's size for insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a flow control device is radially compressed into a contracted size for loading into a delivery catheter, then the device can be delivered to the target location, but it becomes difficult to properly compress the device to a size small enough to fit in the delivery catheter
Solution Approach 1:
The loading assembly nests the flow control device within a funnel-shaped loading cavity that gradually reduces in size, allowing the device to be compressed step-by-step as it passes through progressively narrower sections of the cavity, making compression more manageable and controlled
Solution Approach 2:
The loading assembly acts as an intermediary device between the flow control device and the delivery catheter, providing a controlled environment for compression and facilitating the transfer of the compressed device into the catheter without requiring direct manual compression
2Manufacturing precision
If the loading cavity gradually reduces in size to compress the device, then the device can be properly contracted for loading, but the loading process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel-shaped loading cavity is designed to automatically compress the flow control device as it is inserted, utilizing the geometry of the cavity itself to provide the compression force without requiring additional active compression mechanisms, thereby reducing overall system complexity
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
This solution enables effective deployment and positioning of flow control devices in bronchial passageways, improving airflow dynamics and oxygen exchange by isolating diseased lung regions, thereby enhancing respiratory efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The funnel-shaped loading cavity gradually reduces in size moving in a first direction... The puller housing pulls the bronchial flow control device in the first direction through the funnel housing to gradually contract the bronchial flow control device
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an assembly for loading a bronchial flow control device into a container, such as into a delivery catheter. The assembly includes a funnel housing and a puller housing that mate with one another. The funnel housing defines a funnel-shaped loading cavity that receives a flow control device and that gradually reduces in size moving in a first direction. The puller housing is removably attached to the funnel housing and is also removably attachable to a bronchial flow control device that can be positioned in the loading cavity. The puller housing pulls the bronchial flow control device in the first direction through the funnel housing to gradually contract the bronchial flow control device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to the expanded size.