Cannula Guide Ramp and Bevelled Probe for Tear Duct Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intubation systems, such as the Ritleng system, can be traumatic for patients and surgeons due to the guide wire getting trapped in the cannula, making the retrieval process difficult and complex.
Innovation Solution
The cannula design features a solid space between the opening and the closed end with a guide ramp inner wall forming an angle of less than 90°, and a bevelled section on the silicone tube probe to facilitate easy wire insertion and reduce trauma, preventing the wire from getting stuck and allowing for smoother silicone tube placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the guide wire is inserted into the cannula through the opening, then the wire can be pushed to come into contact with the base of the cannula, but the wire may get trapped in the inner cavity of the cannula beyond the opening, making retrieval difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The base of the cannula is pre-formed with an inclined guide ramp surface that directs the guide wire toward the opening during insertion. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that when the wire is pushed into the cannula, it automatically follows the ramp and exits through the opening without getting trapped in the inner cavity, simplifying both insertion and retrieval operations
Solution Approach 2:
The guide ramp on the base of the cannula features a curved or inclined surface rather than a sharp edge, creating a smooth transition path for the guide wire. This curvature guides the wire gently out of the cannula opening, preventing it from becoming lodged or trapped in the inner cavity, thus improving ease of operation without adding complex mechanical components
2Ease of operation
If the cannula has a conventional design with the base at the end of the opening, then the structure is simple, but the wire can get stuck and the surgeon must fumble around in the nasal cavity to retrieve it
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula base is pre-configured with a guide ramp that actively directs the guide wire toward the opening during the insertion process. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that when the wire is pushed into the cannula, it automatically follows the ramp and exits through the opening without getting trapped in the inner cavity, simplifying both insertion and retrieval operations
Solution Approach 2:
The guide ramp acts as an intermediary element between the inner cavity and the opening of the cannula. It provides a controlled transition path that mediates the movement of the guide wire, ensuring it exits smoothly through the opening rather than becoming trapped, thereby facilitating easy retrieval and reducing patient trauma
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the silicone tube probe is inserted without a bevelled section, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the tube may cause trauma to the tear duct walls during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The silicone tube probe features a bevelled section specifically at its leading end, while the rest of the tube maintains its standard cylindrical shape. This localized modification creates a tapered, rounded tip that gently leads the way during insertion, reducing trauma to the tear duct walls, while the majority of the tube structure remains simple for ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The bevelled section of the silicone tube probe creates a rounded, curved leading edge rather than a sharp tip. This curvature distributes the insertion force over a broader area and guides the tube smoothly into the tear duct, minimizing trauma to the delicate duct walls while adding minimal manufacturing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A cannula includes a hollow cylindrical body which is open at one end and closed at the other end. A slot extends from the open end toward the closed end, terminating with an opening that is larger in width than the slot, the width being measured in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in which the slot extends. The opening allows the passage of a guide wire for relative sliding. The configuration of the cannula is such that the end of the wire coming out of the cannula through the opening cannot, once inserted into the openings, penetrate into the part of the cannula beyond the opening between the latter and the closed end of the cannula. Related methods for inserting a tube shaped probe into a tear duct are disclosed.