Cricothyrotomy Guide with Depth Stop and Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cricothyrotomy kits lack effective alignment mechanisms and stability features, leading to errors in incision placement and increased risk of complications during emergency procedures, particularly in high-stress environments like battlefields.
Innovation Solution
A cricothyrotomy kit with an anchored guide member that aligns a blade guide over the cricothyroid membrane and includes flexible wings for stabilization, ensuring accurate incision depth and reducing the risk of posterior tracheal perforation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a basic cricothyrotomy kit with minimal components is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability and safety of the procedure deteriorates due to lack of alignment mechanisms and increased risk of errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated guide member that provides alignment, depth control, and stabilization features. The guide member integrates a blade guide channel, depth stop mechanism, and anchoring features into one component, reducing the number of separate kit components while improving procedural reliability and safety.
2Device complexity
If manual location of anatomical landmarks is required, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision of incision placement deteriorates due to user error in high-stress environments
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is designed to self-align with anatomical landmarks through its geometric features and configuration. The blade guide channel and depth stop mechanisms automatically position the blade at the correct location and depth without requiring manual measurement or complex alignment procedures by the user, thereby improving incision placement accuracy while maintaining simplicity.
3Speed
If a sharp metal trocar/obturator is used for puncture, then the speed of procedure is improved, but the object-generated harmful factors increase due to risk of posterior tracheal perforation when safety stop is removed
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member incorporates a depth stop mechanism that is pre-configured to prevent the blade from penetrating beyond the safe depth into the trachea. This beforehand safety feature cushions against the harmful effect of over-penetration while allowing rapid puncture procedure to proceed, thus maintaining procedure speed while eliminating the perforation risk.
4Manufacturing precision
If the device requires angling during insertion to prevent posterior wall perforation, then the manufacturing precision of incision placement is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to increased difficulty in high-stress scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member's geometric design and blade guide channel automatically orient the blade at the correct angle during insertion. The structure itself performs the angling function, eliminating the need for the user to manually angle the device. This self-aligning feature maintains precise incision placement while significantly improving ease of operation during emergency procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A cricothyrotomy apparatus includes a frame, a protuberance, and a blade member. The frame includes a blade guide. The protuberance extends in a first direction from the frame, and is located at a distance from the blade guide that corresponds to the distance between a sternal notch of an adult human and an anterior cricothyroid membrane of the adult human. The protuberance is sized and configured to be at least partly received by a sternal notch of an adult human. The blade member is slideably disposed in the blade guide.