Hyaluronic Acid Thread Insertion Device with Protective Sheath
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hyaluronic acid (HA) threads used in dermal filler injections are prone to rapid mechanical degradation during implantation, leading to premature hydration, swelling, and loss of tensile strength, which can result in improper placement, blockage of needles, and increased risk of breakage, limiting their effectiveness and safety.
Innovation Solution
The development of thread insertion devices with a cover member and support member that protect and align HA threads, allowing for single-strand placement, minimizing piercings, reducing contamination and pain, and enabling precise control over thread length and depth, while preventing premature hydration and breakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional needle procedure is used to insert a thread, then the thread can be placed along or underneath the wrinkle, but the thread becomes exposed during insertion, causing it to hydrate, swell, and lose tensile strength
Solution Approach 1:
The thread is nested within a protective sheath that encloses it during the entire insertion procedure. The sheath acts as a protective container that prevents the thread from being exposed to moisture until it reaches the target location, thereby maintaining the thread's mechanical integrity and preventing premature hydration and swelling.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sheath serves as an intermediary between the thread and the external environment (moisture). It mediates the insertion process by allowing the thread to be transported through the skin without direct exposure to moisture, thus preserving the thread's tensile strength and preventing premature engagement with tissue.
2Ease of operation
If the thread is exposed during insertion, then it can engage with skin tissue, but the thread becomes lodged within the needle and blocks the needle lumen
Solution Approach 1:
The thread remains nested within the protective sheath throughout the insertion process, preventing it from becoming lodged in the needle or blocking the needle lumen. The sheath acts as a barrier that keeps the thread contained and manageable until the desired placement is achieved.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional double-stranded thread placement is used, then the thread can be inserted through entry and exit piercings, but the minimum expansion size is twice that of a single thread, limiting treatment of small wrinkles
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sheath is segmented or designed to allow controlled deployment of the thread. This segmentation enables the thread to be inserted as a single strand through a single piercing, rather than requiring double-stranded placement through entry and exit points, thereby reducing the minimum expansion size and enabling treatment of smaller wrinkles.
4Device complexity
If the thread is not protected during insertion, then the procedure is simpler, but friction between the thread and tissue exceeds the tensile strength of the thread, causing it to break
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sheath encloses the thread during insertion, reducing friction between the thread and surrounding tissue. This protection prevents the frictional forces from exceeding the thread's tensile strength, thereby preventing breakage while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
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 solution enhances the mechanical integrity and control of HA thread placement, reducing complications, minimizing trauma to the patient, and allowing treatment of wrinkles that were previously inaccessible with conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
because HA threads are hydrophilic, the mechanical integrity of the thread can rapidly degrade during an implantation procedure. Thread failure can result in improper placement or other complications during the procedure. Thus, a thread that is exposed during insertion of the thread into a patient can become hydrated, causing the thread to swell or expand prematurely
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for inserting an implant into skin or other tissue of a patient can include an insertion device that can enclose and support a hyaluronic thread as it is injected into a patient's skin or other tissue. The device can include a cover member, a non-tubular support member, and the thread. The cover member can have a proximal portion, a closed distal portion, and an inner cavity extending from the proximal portion toward the closed distal portion. The thread can be positioned along a longitudinal length of support member, between the support member and the cover member. The non-tubular support member can extend within the inner cavity of the cover member. The cover member can be moveable relative to the support member to expose the thread.