Hemostatic Agent Delivery Mechanism for Consistent Deep GI Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices for delivering hemostatic agents during endoscopic procedures face issues such as requiring numerous steps, inconsistent dosing, clogging, and difficulty in reaching deep sites within the gastrointestinal tract.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with a housing, force applicator, and drive mechanism that separates agents into smaller particles using gears or wedges, combined with a lumen for propelling these particles via pressurized fluid, allowing for consistent and controlled delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical agent delivery systems are used, then agent delivery can be achieved, but the systems require numerous steps or actuations to achieve delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The agent is divided into smaller particles before delivery. The housing defines an enclosure for storing agent in a first form, and a force applicator separates the agent into particles smaller than the size of the first form. This segmentation allows the agent to be delivered more efficiently through the lumen without requiring numerous actuations.
Solution Approach 2:
The agent is pre-processed into smaller particles within the device housing before delivery. The force applicator is positioned to separate the agent into particles as they are moved toward the lumen, preparing the agent in advance for efficient propulsion through pressurized fluid without requiring additional actuation steps during delivery.
2Measurement precision
If mechanical agent delivery systems are used, then agent delivery can be achieved, but the systems may not achieve a desired rate of agent delivery or a desired dosage of agent
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a trigger mechanism that controls both the rotation of the drive wheels and the opening of the valve for pressurized fluid. This feedback control allows the operator to regulate the rate of agent particle delivery and the dosage by controlling the duration and intensity of the pressurized fluid flow through the lumen.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the physical state of the agent from a larger first form to smaller particles through the force applicator. This parameter change in particle size, combined with controlled pressurized fluid flow, enables precise control over the delivery rate and dosage of agent to achieve desired therapeutic effects.
3Productivity
If mechanical agent delivery systems are used, then agent delivery can be achieved, but the agent may clog portions of the delivery device
Solution Approach 1:
The force applicator separates the agent into smaller particles that are less likely to clog the delivery device. By breaking down the agent into fine particles within the enclosure and propelling them through the lumen as a particle stream, the device prevents clogging that would occur with larger agent forms.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses pressurized fluid delivered through the lumen to propel the agent particles. This pneumatic/hydraulic propulsion method keeps the particles suspended and moving continuously through the delivery system, preventing them from settling and clogging portions of the device.
4Measurement precision
If mechanical agent delivery systems are used, then agent delivery can be achieved, but the systems may result in inconsistent dosing of agent
Solution Approach 1:
The device provides continuous rotation of the drive wheels and continuous supply of pressurized fluid through the valve during the delivery process. This continuous action ensures a steady, consistent flow of agent particles through the lumen, resulting in consistent dosing without the intermittent actuations that could cause variability.
5Length of moving object
If mechanical agent delivery systems are used, then agent delivery can be achieved, but the agent may not reach the treatment site deep within the GI tract
Solution Approach 1:
The device changes the agent into a particle form with smaller size, reducing air resistance and improving flow characteristics. The pressurized fluid provides the energy needed to propel these particles through the lumen to deep treatment sites within the GI tract, overcoming the energy limitations of mechanical systems.
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 ensures consistent and controlled delivery of hemostatic agents to remote treatment sites within the GI tract, reducing clogging and improving dosing accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The device may define a lumen for receiving the particles from the force applicator and for receiving a pressurized fluid to propel the particles through the lumen
Implementation Method 2
The force applicator may define a surface for applying a force to the agent to separate the agent into particles smaller than a size of the first form
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device comprising a housing defining at least one enclosure for storing agent in a first form, a force applicator within the housing and adjacent the enclosure, a drive mechanism for moving the agent toward the force applicator, wherein the force applicator defines a surface for applying a force to the agent to separate the agent into particles smaller than a size of the first form, and wherein the device defines a lumen for receiving the particles from the force applicator and for receiving a pressurized fluid to propel the particles through the lumen.