Fixed-Length Separator for Catheter Starting-Position Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical systems face challenges in accurately determining the starting position of bendable medical devices within patients due to varying operator placements, leading to complexity, size, and cost issues with encoding/tracking systems.
Innovation Solution
A medical system comprising a support platform, a driving unit, a separator device with a fixed length portion, and a medical tube adapter, which allows for precise alignment and insertion of the medical device by establishing a known distance between the support platform and the medical tube entrance, eliminating the need for complex sensors and trackers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If encoding/tracking systems are used to determine the starting position of the medical device, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the position determination function from complex encoding/tracking systems and implements it through a simple mechanical separator device with a known fixed length. The separator device physically establishes a predetermined distance between the support platform and the medical tube adapter, eliminating the need for electronic encoding systems while maintaining position accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator device is designed as a simple, inexpensive mechanical component with a fixed known length. This disposable or reusable mechanical spacer provides the necessary position information without requiring expensive, complex tracking infrastructure, directly addressing the cost and complexity reduction goal.
2Measurement precision
If encoding/tracking systems are used to determine the starting position of the medical device, then measurement precision is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the expensive electronic encoding/tracking subsystems and replaces them with a simple mechanical separator device. The known fixed length of the separator provides the position information that would otherwise require complex and costly sensor systems, thereby reducing overall system cost while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
By using an inexpensive mechanical separator with a predetermined known length, the system eliminates the need for expensive tracking infrastructure. This approach directly reduces system cost while maintaining the necessary position determination accuracy for safe medical device insertion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the support platform is positioned at different locations relative to the patient's mouth, then adaptability is improved, but measurement precision of starting position deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The separator device is designed with a predetermined known length that is established before the medical procedure. This pre-determined length compensates for any variation in support platform positioning by providing a consistent offset distance. The known length allows the system to calculate the correct starting position regardless of where the support platform is placed relative to the patient's mouth.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the fixed known length parameter of the separator device to maintain position accuracy despite changes in support platform positioning. By having a constant, predetermined length, the system can accommodate different operator preferences and patient anatomies while maintaining consistent measurement precision through the relationship: actual distance = measured distance + known separator length.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical system comprises an operation console, a support platform configured to support a catheter, a driving unit moveably coupled to the support platform, the driving unit being configured to advance or retract the catheter based on an instruction from the operation console, a support platform configured to support a catheter, a separator device including: a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a fixed length portion between the first end and the second end, and a medical tube adaptor including: a first end, and a second end opposite the first end and mateable with a medical tube. The medical tube is insertable into a mouth of a patient. The second end of the separator device is mateable with or attached to the first end of the medical tube adapter.