Composite Cranial Guide for MRI-Compatible Hematoma Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intracranial guides for evacuating subdural hematomas and treating intracerebral hemorrhages are limited by their inability to accurately guide catheters, provide irrigation, and compatibility with medical imaging devices, leading to incomplete procedures and delayed treatment due to invasive methods.
Innovation Solution
A cranial guide system comprising a cranial port and guide cannula, designed to be anchored in a burr hole, with features visible to medical imaging devices, allowing for precise catheter guidance and suction application, and compatible with MRI and CT scanners, enabling non-invasive procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a port is made of metal for structural strength, then the port can withstand surgical forces, but the port interferes with medical imaging devices such as MRI or CT scanners
Solution Approach 1:
The port is constructed from composite materials including titanium alloy and medical-grade polymer materials. The titanium alloy provides necessary structural strength and biocompatibility, while the polymer components provide radiolucency for medical imaging compatibility. This composite construction resolves the contradiction between mechanical strength and imaging interference.
2Ease of manufacture
If a port is designed to be simple for ease of manufacture, then the port can be produced efficiently, but the port cannot accurately guide a catheter to the hematoma
Solution Approach 1:
The port is divided into multiple functional segments: a hub portion for access, a body portion with internal channel geometry for guidance, and connection interfaces. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently - the hub for ease of assembly and the body channel geometry for precise catheter directional control, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and guidance accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a port is designed to provide multiple functions (guidance, irrigation, suction), then the port becomes versatile, but the port becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The port is designed as a multi-functional universal device with an internal channel system that can accommodate catheters for drainage, irrigation, and suction functions. The single port structure integrates multiple capabilities through its channel geometry and connection interfaces, providing versatility while maintaining relatively simple overall construction compared to multiple separate devices.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a catheter is inserted through a small hole in the skull to evacuate fluid, then the procedure is minimally invasive, but the procedure cannot provide irrigation or complete evacuation
Solution Approach 1:
The port serves as an intermediary device anchored in the burr hole that facilitates multiple catheter functions. The port's internal channel system and connection interfaces enable catheters to perform drainage, irrigation, and suction functions while maintaining minimal invasiveness through the small burr hole entry point, resolving the contradiction between minimal access and functional completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an intracranial guide for use in a medical procedure, such as to evacuate a subdural hematoma or to relieve an intracerebral hemorrhage. The intracranial guide generally includes a guide cannula to be received within a portion of a cranial port. The cranial port is configured to be anchored in a burr hole to be formed in the patient's cranium. The guide cannula includes at least one channel that may be used to guide a catheter to a targeted portion of the patient's anatomy or to apply a suction force within the patient's cranium.