Bronchoscope Catheter Segmented Lung Lavage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for bronchiectasis, such as whole lung lavage, are risky and inefficient, requiring repeated hospitalizations and leading to antibiotic resistance, due to the difficulty in delivering medications effectively to the distal airways.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for navigating a bronchoscope and catheter to target specific areas within the lung, using a location sensor and inflatable balloons to isolate regions, allowing for controlled delivery and removal of mediums like antibacterial solutions, fluids, or aerosols directly to the treatment site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If whole lung lavage is performed to treat bronchiectasis, then bacterial infections can be eliminated more effectively, but the patient is exposed to significant risks including compromised gas exchange and oxygenation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lung into multiple segments using inflatable balloons that can isolate specific lung segments. This allows lavage to be performed on one segment at a time while other segments remain functional for gas exchange, thereby maintaining patient safety while achieving effective bacterial elimination in the target segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies treatment locally to specific lung segments rather than requiring whole lung lavage. By using catheters and balloons to isolate and treat only the affected segments, the system achieves effective bacterial elimination in targeted areas while preserving the function of healthy lung tissue.
2Reliability
If repeated hospitalizations and intravenous antibiotics are used to treat bronchiectasis, then bacterial infections can be controlled, but antibiotic resistant bacteria develop and healthcare resources are significantly consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes purulent secretions and bacteria directly from the lung segments through lavage procedures. By physically removing the infectious material rather than relying solely on systemic antibiotics, the system achieves effective infection control while reducing the need for repeated antibiotic exposure that drives resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses lavage solutions as an intermediary medium to deliver antimicrobial agents directly to the site of infection in the lung segments. This localized delivery method achieves effective bacterial control with reduced systemic antibiotic use, thereby minimizing the development of antibiotic resistance.
3Reliability
If whole lung lavage procedure is performed to treat pulmonary infections, then exuberant proteins can be displaced and infections treated, but the procedure is lengthy, extensive, and can only be performed at medical centers with high levels of experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs segmented isolation using inflatable balloons that can be positioned and controlled independently in different lung segments. This modular approach simplifies the overall procedure by allowing stepwise treatment of individual segments rather than requiring complex coordination of whole lung lavage, making the procedure more accessible to centers with varying levels of experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses dynamically controllable inflatable balloons that can be inflated and deflated as needed to isolate and treat specific lung segments. This dynamic control allows flexible adaptation to different treatment scenarios and reduces the fixed complexity associated with traditional whole lung lavage procedures.
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 approach enables safer, more effective treatment of bronchiectasis by ensuring precise delivery and removal of therapeutic agents, reducing the risk of complications and antibiotic resistance, while minimizing the need for prolonged hospitalizations.
Implementation Method 1
generating an electromagnetic field about the luminal network and inserting the location sensor into the electromagnetic field. The location sensor includes magnetic field sensors configured to sense the magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
inflatable balloons to isolate regions, allowing for controlled delivery and removal of mediums
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for instilling a medium into portions of a luminal network is provided. The method includes generating a model of a luminal network based on images of the luminal network, determining a location of a treatment target in the luminal network, navigating a bronchoscope through the bronchial tree to a target, guiding a catheter through the bronchoscope, dispensing medium to the target from a distal end of the catheter, and removing a quantity of medium from the luminal network.