Inverted Conical Tip for Tracheostomy Tube Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tracheostomy tube insertion methods often result in injuries and difficulties due to abrupt transitions in cannula diameter, leading to potential fractures and discomfort for patients, especially with thick-walled cannulas.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a conical tip composed of an inner core and outer sleeve, where the sleeve is connected at the forward end and has a radial thickness matching the tracheostomy tube's wall thickness, allowing the sleeve to invert and contract to fit within the tube, reducing the risk of injury and facilitating insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a thick-walled cannula is used to ensure stability, then the cannula has sufficient structural strength, but the abrupt transition from the inside diameter to the outside diameter at the conical tip base causes injuries and makes insertion difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The conical tip is inverted inside out during insertion, turning the originally sharp outer surface into an inner surface that smoothly transitions through the tissue. This inversion transforms the harmful abrupt external transition into a beneficial smooth internal transition, eliminating the stepping effect that caused tissue injury while maintaining cannula stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The conical tip transitions from a static structure with fixed diameter to a dynamic structure that changes its effective diameter during insertion. By inverting the conical tip, the device dynamically adapts its profile to match the cannula's inside diameter, creating a smooth transition that reduces tissue injury risk while maintaining structural integrity.
2Ease of operation
If the conical tip base diameter is made larger to facilitate tissue expansion, then the tracheostoma can be widened more effectively, but the cannula cannot be fully inserted as the tip protrudes beyond the distal end
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the conical tip inside out, the base of the conical tip (which has the larger diameter needed for tissue expansion) becomes the inner surface facing the cannula lumen. This allows the large-diameter base to expand the tissue effectively while the inverted structure ensures the tip remains contained within the cannula, solving both the expansion and insertion depth problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The inverted conical tip nests within the cannula in a manner similar to nested dolls, with the larger-diameter base portion contained within the cannula's inside diameter while still performing its tissue expansion function. This nesting arrangement allows the tip to provide effective expansion without protruding beyond the distal end of the cannula.
3Length of moving object
If the conical tip diameter is reduced to fit within the cannula, then the insertion becomes possible, but the stepping transition from the cannula inside diameter to the tip base diameter creates an abrupt change that causes injury
Solution Approach 1:
Inverting the conical tip transforms the problematic external stepping transition into an internal smooth transition. The abrupt change from outside diameter to inside diameter at the base becomes an internal feature rather than an external one, eliminating the stepping effect that caused tissue injury while maintaining the size reduction needed for cannula insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The inversion creates different local qualities within the conical tip structure: the inner surface (formerly outer surface) provides a smooth transition for tissue passage, while the outer surface (formerly inner surface) maintains the structural integrity and size constraints. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between fit and smooth transition.
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 significantly reduces the risk of injury during insertion, makes the process easier, and ensures long-term comfort by minimizing contact with sensitive tracheal tissues, while allowing the cannula to be used comfortably over time.
Implementation Method 1
the outer sleeve at the base of the conical tip having a radial thickness which corresponds approximately to the wall thickness of the tracheostomy tube at its front end, and wherein the core in the area of the base has a maximum diameter which is smaller than or equal to the inner diameter of the tracheostomy tube
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 3a~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
A device for inserting a tracheal tube into a tracheostomy has an insertion aid with a shaft (6, 6', 14) which can be inserted through the tracheal tube, and a conical tip (2, 13) which is or can be joined to the tracheal tube. In order to provide a device for inserting a tracheal tube which considerably reduces the risk of injury when inserting the tracheal tube, and which makes the insertion process easier, the inserted tube being highly comfortable even with a long-term use, keeping low the danger of injuries or sore points in the trachea, the insertion aid according to the invention has a conical tip (2, 13) which can have a small base diameter in a first state and a large base diameter in a second state. The insertion aid includes a section (6', 14) adjacent to the conical tip (2) whose diameter corresponds at the most to the inner diameter of a tracheal tube (1) to be inserted by means of the insertion aid, the small base diameter of the conical tip also being at the most equal to the inner diameter of the tracheal tube, while the large base diameter of the conical tip is larger than the inner diameter of the tracheal tube and preferably corresponds to approximately the outer diameter of the tracheal tube to be inserted with the insertion aid.