Fluid-Driven Distal Portion for Minimizing Operator Fatigue

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical devices used for delivering materials during minimally invasive procedures, such as endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection, require significant force, leading to medical professional fatigue and risk of device breakage, which can cause patient harm.

Innovation Solution

A medical device with a handle and distal portion that includes a fluid source and conduit, where the delivery of fluid transitions the distal portion from a first configuration to a second, allowing the inner portion to move distally and release the material, reducing the need for excessive force and enhancing safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If great amounts of force are applied to deliver material to treatment site, then material delivery is achieved, but medical professional fatigue increases and device breakage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of material deliveryVSAvoiddevice breakage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device employs a fluid source (balloon) that can be inflated with fluid to deliver material to the treatment site. The fluid pressure generated by inflating the balloon provides the necessary force for material delivery, eliminating the need for medical professionals to manually exert great amounts of force, thereby reducing fatigue and device breakage risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical force application by the medical professional is replaced with a pneumatic/hydraulic system. The fluid source acts as a mechanical amplifier, converting small input forces into sufficient delivery forces through fluid pressure, thus reducing the direct mechanical strain on the operator and device components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If great amounts of force are applied to deliver material to treatment site, then material delivery is achieved, but medical professional fatigue increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of material deliveryVSAvoidprocedure duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid source provides sustained material delivery capability without requiring continuous manual force application. The balloon can be inflated and deflated multiple times, enabling prolonged procedures without increasing operator fatigue, thus extending the effective duration of action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Ease of operation

If device components are subjected to high forces, then material delivery is achieved, but risk of perforation or injury increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of material deliveryVSAvoidpatient injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid-driven mechanism allows controlled and distributed force application through the balloon inflation process. This eliminates sudden high-impact forces that could cause perforation or injury, while still achieving effective material delivery to the treatment site

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible balloon structure acts as a cushioning element that gradually delivers material through controlled expansion. This beforehand cushioning effect prevents sudden mechanical trauma to the patient's gastrointestinal tract, reducing the risk of perforation or injury

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

The device reduces medical professional fatigue and minimizes the risk of device breakage during procedures, ensuring safer and more efficient delivery of materials to treatment sites.

Implementation Method 1

Delivery of a fluid from the fluid source into the lumen of the outer portion may transition the distal portion from the first configuration to a second configuration and cause the inner portion to move distally relative to the outer portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS20240366203A1Medical devices and related methods for delivering a material

Publication Date: 2024.11.07 BOSTON SCI MEDICAL DEVICE LTD

AI summary

A medical device may comprise a handle having a fluid source, a conduit coupled to the handle, and a distal portion coupled to a distal end of the conduit. The distal portion may comprise an outer portion defining a lumen and an inner portion. The inner portion may be disposed within the lumen if the outer portion. The inner portion may define a cavity having a distal opening. The cavity may be configured to contain a material. In a first configuration of the distal portion, the material is disposed within the inner portion. Delivery of a fluid from the fluid source into the lumen of the outer portion transitions the distal portion from the first configuration to a second configuration and causes the inner portion to move distally relative to the outer portion and deliver at least a portion of the material.