Joint Capsule Palpation Device With Controlled Needle Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Penetrating a joint capsule is challenging due to its toughness, which leads to uncontrolled entry and potential damage to surrounding tissues, and existing methods lack effective tactile feedback and require multiple instruments, complicating the procedure.

Innovation Solution

A palpating device with a needle that can be translated between retracted, partially deployed, and fully deployed states, providing controlled penetration and minimizing tissue damage, and a cannula for establishing a portal to the joint space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If long, thin spine needles are used to penetrate the joint capsule, then the needle can initially penetrate the capsule, but the needle provides minimal tactile feedback and is difficult to reposition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactile feedbackVSAvoidrepositioning difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is made dynamically adjustable in length through a telescoping mechanism that allows the user to extend or retract the needle as needed. This dynamic adjustment provides tactile feedback when the needle tip contacts the joint capsule while maintaining the ability to reposition the needle by simply retracting and re-advancing it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The needle is divided into multiple segments that can slide relative to each other, creating a telescoping structure. This segmentation allows the needle to be extended to the required length for penetration while maintaining flexibility and tactile feedback capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a flow cannula with significantly larger diameter than the needle is inserted through the needle path, then the cannula can establish a portal to the joint space, but the large diameter prevents insertion through the joint capsule

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecannula placement accuracyVSAvoidcannula insertion difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by first inserting the adjustable needle to create a pilot path through the joint capsule, then using this pre-established path to guide the cannula insertion. This preliminary needle insertion makes subsequent cannula placement easier and more accurate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The needle is inserted through the cannula in a nested configuration, where the smaller needle passes through the larger cannula. This nesting allows the needle to prepare the path while the cannula follows through the same trajectory, ensuring accurate portal placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If force is applied to force the cannula through the joint capsule along the needle path, then the cannula can be inserted, but undesired trauma to the joint capsule occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecannula insertionVSAvoidtissue trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of needle length dynamically during insertion. By adjusting the needle length to match the required penetration depth and using the telescoping mechanism, the needle creates an optimal pilot path that reduces resistance and minimizes trauma during cannula insertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If a set of increasingly larger sized dilators are used to dilate the joint capsule prior to inserting the cannula, then the cannula can be inserted, but several tedious steps are added and multiple instruments are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecannula insertionVSAvoidnumber of instruments

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the functions of multiple dilators into a single adjustable needle device. The telescoping needle can be extended to different lengths to accommodate varying tissue thicknesses, eliminating the need for multiple dilators of increasing size while achieving the same dilative effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustable needle serves multiple functions: it acts as a palpation tool to assess tissue depth, a pilot needle to create the insertion path, and a dilating instrument to prepare the joint capsule for cannula insertion. This multi-functionality replaces the need for multiple separate instruments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250331893A1Devices and methods for palpating and penetrating a joint capsule

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 STRYKER CORP

AI summary

A device for palpating and penetrating a joint capsule of a subject includes a shaft having a distal tip configured for palpating the joint capsule of the subject; a needle disposed within the shaft and configured to penetrate the joint capsule of the subject; and a handle coupled to the shaft and comprising a slider configured to translate the needle between a retracted state in which a distal end of the needle is retracted within the shaft and a fully deployed state in which the distal end of the needle fully extends from the distal tip of the shaft.