Flexible Aspiration Cannula for Vertebral Marrow Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional bone marrow aspiration needles are stiff and linear, making it difficult to access marrow from smaller, curved spaces like the vertebral body, leading to increased trauma and the need for multiple punctures to obtain sufficient marrow, which is not ideal for emerging orthobiologics applications.

Innovation Solution

A bone marrow aspiration device featuring a flexible aspiration cannula and a locking mechanism that allows the cannula to be advanced and retracted in a controlled manner, enabling access to a broader cross-section of the marrow space with fewer punctures, including a ratchet or screw mechanism to lock the aspiration cannula to the introducer cannula for safe withdrawal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional stiff aspiration needle is used to access marrow from curved spaces like the vertebral body, then the needle can penetrate cortical bone effectively, but it cannot access marrow from smaller, curved spaces and requires multiple punctures

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAbility to access curved marrow spacesVSAvoidNumber of punctures required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The aspiration needle is designed with a curved or flexible tip that can navigate the curved anatomy of the vertebral body, allowing the needle to follow the natural contours of the bone and access marrow spaces that would be inaccessible to a straight needle, thereby reducing the number of punctures needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The needle incorporates a flexible segment that allows dynamic bending and adaptation to the curved path required to reach marrow spaces in the vertebral body, enabling the needle to change its configuration during insertion to match the anatomical curvature

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If a stiff aspiration needle is used to access marrow, then the needle can penetrate cortical bone, but it causes increased trauma to the bone and surrounding tissue

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePenetration capability through cortical boneVSAvoidTrauma to bone and tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is divided into distinct segments with different mechanical properties: a stiff proximal segment for penetrating cortical bone and a flexible distal segment for navigating marrow spaces, allowing each segment to perform its specific function while minimizing overall trauma

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the needle have different stiffness characteristics - the proximal portion maintains high stiffness for effective bone penetration while the distal portion has reduced stiffness to minimize trauma during navigation through curved marrow spaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible aspiration needle is used to access curved marrow spaces, then the needle can navigate vertebral body anatomy, but it may buckle or bend during penetration of cortical bone

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAbility to navigate curved anatomyVSAvoidResistance to buckling during penetration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is segmented into a stiff proximal portion for cortical bone penetration and a flexible distal portion for navigating marrow spaces, with the stiff segment providing structural support to prevent buckling during the penetration phase

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The needle exhibits spatially varying stiffness properties, with the proximal region having high stiffness to resist buckling during penetration and the distal region having low stiffness to allow bending and navigation through curved anatomy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20230072916A1Apparatus And Methods For Aspirating Tissue

Publication Date: 2023.03.09 CERVOS MEDICAL LLC

AI summary

A bone marrow aspiration device and associated method includes an introducer needle and an aspiration needle. The introducer needle includes an introducer cannula and a removable introducer stylet that includes a sharp tip to penetrate bone. The aspiration needle includes an optionally flexible aspiration cannula and a blunt stylet. The aspiration needle is receivable in the introducer cannula when the introducer stylet is removed from the introducer needle. The aspiration cannula forms a channel for aspirating bone marrow when the stylet is removed. The aspiration device also includes a locking mechanism to lock the aspiration cannula to the introducer cannula when the aspiration cannula is received in the introducer cannula, whereby the aspiration cannula can be advanced distally relative to the introducer cannula in a controlled manner, and whereby pulling the aspiration cannula proximally causes the introducer cannula to move proximally with the aspiration cannula.