Flexible Distal Probe for Non-Invasive Surfactant Injection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for injecting surfactant into premature or newborn infants during non-invasive ventilation are invasive, risk irritating the trachea, and disrupt spontaneous breathing, leading to ineffective surfactant distribution and prolonged intervention times.

Innovation Solution

A probe with a semi-rigid proximal part and flexible distal part, made from materials like polyether block amide (PEBA), designed for non-invasive surfactant injection into the trachea, allowing for precise guidance without triggering diaphragmatic movement cessation, with features such as a stiffening rod, thermoplastic elastomer material, and angled design for easy insertion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an endotracheal tube is used for surfactant injection, then injection is quick and easy, but it risks irritating the trachea and triggering cessation of spontaneous breathing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of surfactant injectionVSAvoidtracheal irritation and cessation of spontaneous breathing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The probe employs a dual-material construction where the distal part is made of soft flexible material to minimize tracheal irritation, while the proximal part uses rigid material for ease of manipulation and positioning. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and reduction of harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The probe is divided into distinct segments: a soft distal part for tracheal contact and a rigid proximal part for operator control. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function optimally, enabling easy injection while protecting the trachea.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a gastric tube or suction tube is used for surfactant injection, then tracheal irritation is reduced, but positioning is difficult and intervention time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereduction of tracheal irritationVSAvoidintervention time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By making only the distal part soft and flexible while keeping the proximal part rigid, the probe reduces tracheal irritation at the contact point while maintaining ease of positioning and manipulation for the operator, thus reducing intervention time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the distal part is made of soft flexible material, then tracheal irritation is reduced, but guidance and positioning become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracheal irritationVSAvoidease of guidance and positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The probe is segmented into a soft distal part for tracheal contact and a rigid proximal part for operator control. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by localizing flexibility where needed for patient comfort and rigidity where needed for operator control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different material properties are assigned to different parts of the probe: soft and flexible at the distal end for patient comfort, rigid at the proximal end for ease of manipulation. This local quality differentiation simultaneously achieves both goals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If surfactant is injected when the child is breathing spontaneously, then distribution in the alveoli is improved, but the child must maintain spontaneous breathing throughout the procedure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurfactant distribution effectivenessVSAvoidprocedural simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The probe is designed to be pre-formed with the appropriate shape and stiffness characteristics before insertion, allowing it to be positioned correctly during spontaneous breathing without requiring intubation or cessation of breathing. The preliminary preparation of the probe enables the procedure to be performed during spontaneous breathing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2875841B1Probe for injecting a fluid agent into a newborn or premature receiving non-invasive ventilation with continuous positive pressure

Publication Date: 2021.01.13 VYGON SA

Figure 1
Figure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a probe (1) for the injection of a fluid agent into a duct of a newborn or premature infant, comprising: - a proximal part (2) defining a proximal passage (20), and - a distal part (3), defining a distal passage (30) in fluidic communication with the proximal passage (20), said distal part (3) being fixed securely to the proximal part (2), the distal part (3) being made of a more flexible material than the proximal part (2) in order to facilitate its introduction into the duct and to avoid any damage to said duct.