Intestinal Catheter with Modular Functional Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices for procedures in the intestine face challenges with maneuverability and limited functionality, necessitating improved systems and methods for treating and diagnosing intestinal tissue effectively for various diseases and disorders.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a catheter with an elongate shaft and a functional assembly for inserting into the intestine, equipped with a console for controlling treatment elements, sensors for adjusting parameters, and methods for treating mucosal tissue in the small intestine to address conditions like insulin resistance, arthritis, and metabolic disorders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If current medical devices are used for intestinal procedures, then basic treatment functions can be provided, but maneuverability and operational ease deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple segments including a shaft, functional assembly, and various modular components that can be independently manipulated. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for specific functions while maintaining overall maneuverability through coordinated movement of discrete sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter incorporates dynamic elements such as flexible shafts that can bend and adapt to intestinal contours, movable functional assemblies that can be deployed or retracted, and adjustable components that respond to operational conditions. This dynamic design enables the device to navigate complex anatomical pathways while maintaining ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If current medical devices are used for intestinal procedures, then basic treatment can be performed, but functionality is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter system integrates multiple functional elements including treatment elements, sensors, and delivery mechanisms within a single device platform. This multi-functionality allows the catheter to perform various intestinal procedures such as ablation, monitoring, and drug delivery, thereby enhancing adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The design employs nested structures where functional assemblies are positioned on or within the catheter shaft, and components can be collapsed or retracted into one another. This nesting approach allows multiple functional elements to be contained within a compact form factor, improving versatility while managing device complexity through space-efficient arrangement.
3Manufacturing precision
If treatment parameters are adjusted based on sensor signals, then treatment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates sensors that detect physiological parameters and provide real-time feedback to control systems. This feedback mechanism enables automatic or semi-automatic adjustment of treatment parameters such as energy delivery or fluid infusion rates, thereby improving treatment precision through closed-loop control while managing complexity through automated algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment mechanisms with sensor-based electronic control systems. Instead of requiring manual calibration and adjustment, treatment parameters are automatically regulated based on sensor data, improving precision while reducing the complexity of manual operation and calibration procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for performing a medical procedure in an intestine of a patient is provided. The method comprises providing a system comprising: a catheter for insertion into the intestine, the catheter comprising: an elongate shaft comprising a distal portion; and a functional assembly positioned on the shaft distal portion and comprising at least one treatment element. The catheter is introduced into the patient, and target tissue is treated with the at least one treatment element. The target tissue comprises mucosal tissue of the small intestine, and the medical procedure can be configured to treat one or more diseases or disorders based on a measured physiologic parameter of the patient.