Guide Holding Portion Prevents Retraction During Sinus Dilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for expanding constricted areas, such as those in the paranasal sinus, face challenges in effectively inserting and maintaining dilator members due to reaction forces, which can cause the guide to retract, hindering proper treatment.
Innovation Solution
A treatment system comprising a guide with tubular dilator members and a holding portion, where the holding portion, such as a balloon-shaped member, is used to fix the guide in place, allowing the dilator members to be inserted and expanded without retraction, using a mechanism that increases the holding portion's diameter to engage with the narrow portion, thereby preventing guide retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If dilator members are inserted to expand the narrow portion, then the constricted area is enlarged, but the guide retracts due to reaction forces
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion is inflated to engage with the narrow portion before dilator members are inserted. This preliminary anchoring action prevents the guide from retracting when reaction forces occur during subsequent dilator insertion and expansion operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding portion acts as an intermediary element between the guide and the narrow portion. By engaging the holding portion with the narrow portion wall, it mediates the interaction and prevents direct transmission of reaction forces to the guide, thereby maintaining guide stability during dilation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the holding portion diameter is increased to engage with the narrow portion, then guide retraction is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion serves multiple functions: it anchors the guide in place, provides a counterbalance for reaction forces during dilation, and can be deflated for device removal. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate anchoring mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding portion's diameter is changed dynamically through inflation and deflation. This parameter change allows the holding portion to expand for engagement during insertion, maintain engagement during dilation to prevent retraction, and deflate for easy removal, providing a simple mechanism to address stability without permanent structural complexity.
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
Enables successful enlargement of narrow portions by allowing the dilator members to be smoothly inserted and expanded, preventing guide retraction and ensuring effective treatment by managing reaction forces with the inflatable holding portion.
Implementation Method 1
a holding portion, such as a balloon-shaped member, is used to fix the guide in place, allowing the dilator members to be inserted and expanded without retraction, using a mechanism that increases the holding portion's diameter
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment system includes a guide, tubular dilator members, an operation portion, and a holding portion. The guide extends linearly or curvilinearly. The dilator members pass the guide inside and are configured to move forward along the guide. The operation portion is configured to sequentially move the plurality of dilator members from a proximal end side of the guide to a distal end side of the guide. The holding portion is provided on the guide. A distance between outer edges of the holding portion in a direction intersecting a direction from the proximal end side toward the distal end side of the guide is larger or is configured to be larger than a distance between outer edges of the guide.