Expandable Needle Head for Minimally Invasive Disc Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing needle systems for intervertebral disc therapies require large access paths, leading to excessive tissue disruption due to the need for large needles, which results in increased tissue damage and longer recovery times.
Innovation Solution
An orthopedic needle assembly with an expandable needle head and dilator tubes that allow for a small initial access path to be expanded without further cutting, enabling larger access for therapeutic delivery or extraction while minimizing tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large needle is used to deliver large quantities of therapeutic agents or extract large amounts of tissue/fluid, then the therapeutic capability is improved, but the access path size increases leading to more tissue disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The needle head is designed to be expandable, transitioning from a small initial diameter to a larger expanded diameter. This dynamic structure allows the needle to start with a minimal access path and then expand to provide the necessary opening size for delivering large quantities of therapeutic agents or extracting large amounts of tissue/fluid, thereby resolving the contradiction between quantity capability and tissue disruption
Solution Approach 2:
The needle head is divided into multiple expandable segments that can be collapsed into a compact configuration for insertion and then expanded to a larger configuration for the therapeutic procedure. This segmentation allows the needle to provide both small initial access and large working diameter, eliminating the need for a permanently large needle
2Productivity
If a large needle is used to achieve large access path, then the delivery and extraction capability is improved, but the recovery time increases due to more tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable needle head provides high productivity during the procedure by expanding to a large diameter for efficient delivery and extraction, then collapsing to a small diameter for removal. This dynamic capability maintains minimal tissue damage throughout, thereby reducing recovery time while preserving operational effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The needle head is pre-configured in a collapsed state for insertion, and the expansion occurs only after the needle is positioned within the tissue. This preliminary preparation allows the system to maintain small access path during insertion and removal, minimizing tissue damage and accelerating recovery while providing large access capability when needed
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure is directed to a needle system configured to enlarge an access path in a patient without further cutting into the tissue of the patient so as to reduce recovery time and trauma to the patient. Also provided are methods of using the needle system provided.