Insulated Drug Injection Needle with Electrode for Myocardial Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current drug solution injection needles face challenges in accurately determining whether the injection opening is located within the myocardium, making reliable drug administration difficult due to the pulsating heart wall's shape, which complicates visualization with cine imaging.

Innovation Solution

A drug solution injection needle system with a metal distal end member, an electrical insulating connecting tube, and an insulating layer, featuring an electrode that measures electric potential to confirm entry into the myocardium, allowing for reliable drug solution injection by detecting a predetermined electric potential increase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If cine imaging is used to check needle tip position, then the needle tip location can be visualized, but the pulsating heart wall shape cannot be confirmed, making it difficult to determine if the needle is inside the myocardium

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle tip position detection accuracyVSAvoidheart wall shape information

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an electrode as an intermediary element that measures electric potential differences between the needle tip and surrounding tissue. This mediator provides indirect information about needle placement by detecting electrical signals from the myocardium, compensating for the inability of cine imaging to show heart wall shape.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical visualization method (cine imaging) with an electrical measurement method (electric potential measurement). Instead of relying on visual confirmation of needle position relative to heart wall shape, the system uses electrical potential differences to infer needle tip location within the myocardium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If multiple electrodes and lead lines are added to improve measurement accuracy, then needle placement can be confirmed, but the needle structure becomes more complex and diameter increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle placement confirmation accuracyVSAvoidneedle structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the needle shaft serve multiple functions: it acts as both the drug delivery conduit and the electrical measurement electrode. The insulating layer on the needle shaft creates a bipolar configuration where the exposed metal surface functions as the active electrode, eliminating the need for separate electrode components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the electrode function from separate components and integrates it directly into the needle shaft structure. By removing the insulating layer at the distal end, the needle shaft itself becomes the electrode, simplifying the overall device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the needle structure is simplified to reduce diameter and improve flexibility, then injection accuracy may be compromised, but with proper insulation design, measurement precision can be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle flexibility and diameterVSAvoidelectric potential measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing insulation only at specific locations on the needle shaft rather than complete insulation. The insulating layer covers the shaft but leaves the distal end exposed, creating localized functional zones: the insulated portion serves as the reference electrode and the exposed distal end serves as the active measurement electrode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 easy determination of the injection opening's location within the myocardium, ensuring accurate and reliable drug delivery by utilizing the measured electric potential to confirm proper needle placement and reduce the need for additional electrodes or lead lines, thereby enhancing the needle's flexibility and reducing its diameter.

Implementation Method 1

an electrode configured to measure electric potential is formed by a distal end portion of the metal tube not covered by the insulating layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric potential measurement: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS20230118399A1Drug solution injection needle and drug solution injection needle system

Publication Date: 2023.04.20 JAPAN LIFELINE CO LTD

AI summary

A drug solution injection needle includes: a distal end member being a sharp member and made of metal; a connecting tube having electrical insulating properties connected to a base end side of the distal end member; a metal tube connected to a base end side of the connecting tube; and an insulating layer covering an outer circumferential surface of a base end portion of the metal tube. The connecting tube and/or the distal end member includes at least one hole communicating with a cavity of the drug solution injection needle and open to an outer surface of the connecting tube or the distal end member, and an electrode configured to measure electric potential is formed by a distal end portion of the metal tube not covered by the insulating layer.