Dynamic Suction Cup for Tissue Engagement and Bioimpedance Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices for suctional engagement of tissues during procedures often fail to provide sufficient engagement, leading to potential substance injection into unintended areas, such as the bloodstream, which can cause embolism and clotting.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising an inner and outer tube configuration that forms a suction cup through relative movement, allowing for adjustable suction engagement and feedback mechanisms like bioimpedance data and radiopaque elements to confirm tissue contact, ensuring precise engagement and preventing unwanted substance distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If small devices are used for suctional engagement, then the device can perform necessary procedures in constrained spaces, but the suctional engagement force is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup is designed to be dynamically deployable from a compressed configuration during delivery to an expanded configuration during engagement. The foldable portion transitions from a compact state that allows small device profile to an expanded state that provides large engagement surface area and sufficient suction force, resolving the contradiction between device size and engagement force
Solution Approach 2:
The foldable portion is nested within the device body in a compressed state during delivery, similar to a nested doll structure. When deployed, it expands outward to form the suction cup, allowing the large engagement surface to be contained within a small delivery profile, thus maintaining both small device size and sufficient engagement force
2Force
If large devices are used for suctional engagement, then sufficient suctional engagement force is achieved, but the device cannot perform procedures in constrained spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from a small compressed configuration for navigation to a large expanded configuration for engagement. The foldable portion expands to provide large suction cup surface area for sufficient engagement force, while the ability to compress allows delivery through constrained spaces, resolving the size-force contradiction
3Productivity
If suction engagement is not confirmed, then the procedure can proceed quickly, but substance may be injected into unintended areas causing embolism
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates feedback mechanisms including radiopaque elements for imaging confirmation and bioimpedance sensing to verify suction engagement before substance injection. This feedback loop ensures the suction cup is properly engaged with tissue, preventing injection into unintended areas while maintaining procedural efficiency through real-time verification
4Reliability
If feedback mechanisms are added to confirm suction engagement, then substance injection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Radiopaque elements are integrated into the foldable portion structure, providing imaging feedback without requiring separate complex sensing systems. The bioimpedance sensors are embedded within the device walls, utilizing the device structure itself as part of the sensing circuit, thus providing reliable engagement confirmation while minimizing additional complexity
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
The device ensures accurate suctional engagement of tissues, preventing substance injection into unintended areas and providing feedback to confirm successful attachment, thereby enhancing procedural safety and efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
suction through the at least one inner lumen of the device can cause the suction cup to suctionally engage a tissue or organ adjacent to the suction cup
Implementation Method 2
radiopaque elements to confirm tissue contact
Implementation Method 3
feedback mechanisms like bioimpedance data and radiopaque elements to confirm tissue contact
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and systems for tissue engagement and methods of using the same. In at least one embodiment of a device of the present disclosure, the device comprises an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; an engagement portion at the distal end of the elongated body, the engagement portion configured to engage a tissue adjacent thereto when the engagement portion contacts the tissue while suction is applied through the device; and at least one electrode present along the engagement portion and configured to contact the tissue when the engagement portion contacts the tissue and to obtain bioimpedance data from the tissue while suction is applied through the device.