Flexible Liquid Delivery Channels With Static Thermal Insulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing minimally invasive medical procedures face challenges in maintaining the temperature of treatment liquids during delivery, leading to potential damage to adjacent tissues and equipment due to heat transfer.
Innovation Solution
The use of flexible elongate devices with insulation chambers containing static insulators along the liquid delivery channel to maintain the temperature of heated treatment liquids, coupled with support structures to constrain the axial position of the channel, and optional occlusion devices to control fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heated treatment liquid is delivered through a liquid delivery channel, then thermal treatment can be applied to diseased anatomy, but heat transfer to adjacent tissues and equipment may occur causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
An insulation chamber filled with insulating material is introduced as an intermediary between the heated treatment liquid in the liquid delivery channel and the surrounding adjacent tissues and equipment. This insulation chamber acts as a thermal barrier that blocks heat transfer from the hot liquid to the surrounding structures, preventing thermal damage while allowing the heated liquid to maintain its therapeutic temperature for treating diseased anatomy
2Object-affected harmful factors
If insulation chamber is added to maintain treatment liquid temperature, then thermal risk to adjacent tissues is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation chamber is nested concentrically around the liquid delivery channel, with the liquid delivery channel positioned inside the insulation chamber. This nested configuration allows the insulation chamber to surround and protect the heated liquid without requiring separate external insulation components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while still providing effective thermal isolation from adjacent tissues
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
Effectively maintains the temperature of treatment liquids along the length of the device, reducing thermal risk to adjacent tissues and equipment while ensuring precise thermal treatment.
Implementation Method 1
The insulation chamber contains a static insulator. The heated liquid within the liquid delivery channel is insulated by one or more insulation chambers of the flexible elongate device surrounding the liquid delivery channel.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible elongate device comprises a wall defining a lumen and a liquid delivery channel extending within the lumen. The liquid delivery channel is configured to convey a treatment liquid. The flexible elongate device also comprises an insulation chamber extending along the liquid delivery channel within the lumen. The insulation chamber contains a static insulator. The flexible elongate device also comprises a support structure that constrains an axial position of the liquid delivery channel with respect to the lumen.