Force-Limiting Treatment Device for Hard-Tissue Deployment Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices used for treating conditions like BPH face deployment failure due to damage from encountering non-target tissues such as bone or calcifications, leading to incomplete treatment and potential device malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A force limiting apparatus is integrated into the treatment device, featuring a treatment tool connected to a movable assembly with a force limiting element, such as a spring or reversibly engageable connector, to prevent damage by allowing controlled movement and deployment of the tool even when encountering hard anatomical structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the treatment device is advanced to the interventional site, then the treatment can be performed, but the movable portion may encounter non-target tissue such as bone or calcifications causing device damage
Solution Approach 1:
A force limiting element is integrated into the treatment device to preemptively protect against damage from bone strikes or other hard tissue encounters. This element allows the device to withstand accidental contacts during advancement and manipulation without causing deployment failure, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable device function and preventing damage from harmful external factors.
2Productivity
If the movable portion encounters hard tissue, then the treatment may be interrupted, but device damage occurs leading to incomplete treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The force limiting element serves as a protective mechanism that absorbs or limits the impact forces from hard tissue encounters, preventing structural damage to the device. This ensures that treatment can continue or be redone without device failure, thereby maintaining high treatment completion rates while preserving device integrity.
3Ease of operation
If the treatment device is manipulated at the soft-hard tissue interface, then the treatment can be performed, but the risk of device damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The force limiting element is integrated into the device structure to provide inherent protection during manipulation at the soft-hard tissue interface. This allows physicians to freely manipulate the device for proper positioning and treatment delivery without worrying about damage from accidental contacts with bone or other hard structures, thereby maintaining both ease of operation and functional reliability.
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 apparatus effectively prevents damage to the treatment device, ensuring complete deployment and functionality by accommodating increased forces and providing indicators for incomplete deployment, thereby enhancing treatment efficacy and reducing device failure.
Implementation Method 1
a force limiting element connected to the proximal portion of the treatment tool and connected to the movable assembly. The force limiting element allows movement of the proximal portion of the treatment tool in a proximal direction with respect to the movable assembly while maintaining the coupling between the movable assembly and the proximal portion of the treatment tool when forces experienced by the treatment tool increase to a predetermined amount of force.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for preventing deployment failure or damage of a movable portion of a treatment device via a force limiting element in the treatment device.