Intraosseous Drill Feedback Control to Prevent Backwalling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Intraosseous access devices require trained users to ensure correct placement, and complications arise when accessing bones of varying sizes and densities, especially in emergency situations where trained personnel may not be available, leading to risks of incorrect placement and delays.

Innovation Solution

An intraosseous access system equipped with sensors and processing units that automatically detect access to the medullary cavity, modifying the operation of the drill to prevent back walling, by comparing electrical or mechanical measurements to threshold values and providing user notifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual intraosseous access devices are used requiring trained users, then placement accuracy can be maintained, but user training time and availability become limiting factors in emergency situations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplacement accuracyVSAvoiduser training requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-monitoring and self-correction by automatically detecting medullary cavity access through sensor feedback and stopping drill activation when access is detected, eliminating the need for user training while maintaining placement accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors parameters such as torque, power consumption, or rotational speed during drill activation and provides real-time feedback to the processing unit, which automatically determines medullary cavity access and adjusts drill operation accordingly, ensuring accurate placement without requiring trained operators

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If automated detection systems are added to intraosseous access devices, then ease of use improves for untrained users, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic detection capabilityVSAvoidsensor and processing unit integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The driver component serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical drill activation, integrates sensor monitoring, processes detection data, and controls drill shutdown automatically, consolidating multiple functions into a single multi-functional device that improves ease of use while managing complexity through integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the drill driver, sensors, processing unit, and control logic into an integrated automated system where components work together as a unified whole, reducing operational complexity despite adding automated detection capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If drill activation continues without automatic stopping, then rapid access can be achieved, but risk of back walling increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess speedVSAvoidback walling risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors drill parameters during activation and provides real-time feedback to automatically detect medullary cavity access, enabling rapid access while preventing back walling through automatic shutdown when access is detected

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system takes preliminary action by continuously monitoring drill parameters and preparing to stop activation before back walling can occur, automatically detecting medullary cavity access and shutting down the driver to prevent the harmful effect of excessive penetration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 users with little to no training to rapidly and accurately place access devices, reducing the risk of back walling and improving efficiency in emergency situations by automatically detecting medullary cavity access and adjusting the drill's operation.

Implementation Method 1

the sensor is configured to detect one of an electrical measurement or a mechanical measurement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical measurement detection: Ohmmeter

Implementation Method 2

the sensor is configured to detect one of an electrical measurement or a mechanical measurement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical measurement detection: Torque

Data Source

PatentUS20220054147A1Intraosseous Access System To Automatically Detect Medullary Cavity

Publication Date: 2022.02.24 BARD ACCESS SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

An intraosseous access system to access a medullary cavity includes a driver including an access assembly, a motor, and an energy source. The intraosseous access system further includes a sensor configured to detect a first input from one of the motor or the energy source. The intraosseous access system further including a processing unit, communicatively coupled with the sensor, configured to receive the first input from the sensor, and determine access to a medullary cavity. The processing unit can then modify operation of one of the motor and the energy source to automatically stop operation of the system and prevent backwalling.