Helical Bending Tool for Medical Cannulas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices, such as needles and cannulas, often require customization during procedures to ensure accurate placement with minimal trauma, but existing methods of bending these devices can lead to deformation, reduced fluid flow, and kinking, which compromise their performance.
Innovation Solution
A bending tool made from a helically shaped wire with a cylindrical design, featuring a bending region and flared insertion regions, allows for precise bending of medical devices while maintaining their cross-sectional shape and integrity, enabling effective modification of medical devices like needles and cannulas for specific procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a medical device is bent to introduce a desired angle for procedure site negotiation, then the ability to negotiate tortuous paths is improved, but the cross-sectional shape deformation occurs which reduces or eliminates fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bending tool as an intermediary device between the medical professional and the medical device. This tool provides a controlled environment for bending the device, using a fulcrum and guide surface to apply force in a controlled manner that preserves the cross-sectional shape while achieving the desired angular orientation for navigating tortuous vascular paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the bending process by controlling the location, angle, and magnitude of applied force through the bending tool's fulcrum and guide surface. This controlled parameter change allows the device to be bent to the desired angle while maintaining its cross-sectional integrity and fluid flow characteristics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a medical device is bent to modify its configuration for a specific procedure, then adaptability to patient-specific vascular layouts is improved, but kinks are introduced which increase difficulty to advance the device
Solution Approach 1:
The bending tool serves as an intermediary that enables controlled modification of the medical device's configuration. By providing a stable fulcrum and guide surface, the tool allows the device to be bent into patient-specific angles without creating kinks that would hinder advancement through the vascular system.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is bent to the desired configuration before the procedure using the bending tool, allowing the medical professional to pre-establish the optimal angle and shape. This preliminary action ensures the device is ready for smooth advancement during the procedure without encountering resistance from kinks.
3Productivity
If a medical device is bent immediately before or during a procedure, then time efficiency is improved, but the risk of deformation and performance degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bending tool acts as a specialized intermediary device that enables rapid bending operations while maintaining device integrity. The tool's fulcrum and guide surface provide controlled force application that prevents deformation, allowing medical professionals to bend devices immediately before procedures without compromising performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool controls the parameters of the bending process (force magnitude, application location, and angle) to achieve rapid yet controlled deformation. This allows the device to be modified in real-time before the procedure while maintaining its structural integrity and fluid flow characteristics.
4Device complexity
If conventional bending methods are used without specialized tools, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision of the bend is worsened leading to cross-sectional deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The bending tool provides a simple yet effective intermediary mechanism using a fulcrum and guide surface. This basic mechanical structure enables precise control of the bending process, achieving accurate angular orientation and preserving cross-sectional shape without requiring complex equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The bending tool divides the bending process into controlled components: the fulcrum provides a stable pivot point, the guide surface defines the bending path and angle, and the handle applies controlled force. This segmentation of the bending action enables precise control while keeping the overall device simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system of bending medical device components for customization to a particular medical procedure and patient while generally maintaining the ideal performance of the component. A medical professional embeds the medical device component into a bending tool. The medical professional then aligns an intended curve region of the medical device component within a bending region of the bending tool and imparts a curve in the bending region. Finally, the medical professional withdraws the medical device component from the bending tool, and utilizes the bent medical device component in the medical procedure. The system may be a kit comprising various medical device components for a particular medical procedure and a suitable bending tool for those components.