Kidney Stone Removal With Angled Irrigation and Continuous Vacuum
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing kidney stone removal methods, such as ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy, are invasive, time-consuming, and inefficient, requiring multiple insertions and posing risks of infection and scarring, while basket retrieval devices are difficult to maneuver and cause urinary tract irritation.
Innovation Solution
A kidney stone removal mechanism featuring an irrigation tube, vacuum tube, and trigger mechanism that allows selective constricting, closing, and opening of the irrigation tube, along with vacuum initiation, facilitated by a steering mechanism and catheter for precise stone removal, including a nozzle with angled irrigation ports and optional laser guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If percutaneous nephrolithotomy is used to remove kidney stones, then stone removal effectiveness is improved, but patient trauma and infection risk increase due to skin incision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the stone removal function from invasive surgical procedures by using a vacuum tube that can be inserted through natural body orifices (urethra, bladder, ureter) rather than requiring skin incisions. The vacuum tube directly aspirates stones and fragments, eliminating the need for percutaneous access while maintaining effective stone removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces irrigation fluid as an intermediary substance that facilitates stone removal by flushing stones toward the vacuum tube opening and preventing tissue adhesion. This fluid mediator enables effective stone extraction through natural body passages without requiring invasive surgical access.
2Productivity
If basket retrieval devices are used to remove kidney stones, then stone removal is achieved, but urinary tract irritation increases due to repeated insertion and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous stone removal by maintaining the vacuum tube in place and using continuous irrigation to flush stones toward the tube opening. This eliminates the repeated insertion and removal cycles required by basket devices, as the vacuum tube continuously aspirates stones and fragments as they are flushed into position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic action through irrigation fluid to continuously flush stones toward the vacuum tube, combined with continuous vacuum aspiration. This continuous fluid-based mechanism replaces the mechanical insert-remove cycles of basket devices, reducing trauma to the urinary tract while maintaining effective stone removal.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional ureteroscopy with basket devices is used, then minimally invasive access is achieved, but procedural time increases due to multiple insertions and removals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves continuous stone removal by maintaining the vacuum tube in place and using continuous irrigation to flush stones toward the tube opening. This eliminates the repeated insertion and removal cycles required by basket devices, significantly reducing procedural time while maintaining minimally invasive access through natural body orifices.
4Productivity
If repeated basket insertion and removal is performed, then complete stone removal is achieved, but hand fatigue increases for the surgeon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous stone removal with the vacuum tube remaining in place while irrigation continuously flushes stones toward the opening. This eliminates the repetitive manual insertion and removal actions required by basket devices, significantly reducing surgeon hand fatigue while achieving complete stone removal through the continuous aspirate-flush cycle.
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 minimally invasive, efficient, and precise removal of kidney stones with reduced patient discomfort and procedural time, minimizing the need for anesthesia and reducing urinary tract irritation.
Implementation Method 1
selectively initiate vacuum within the vacuum tube to remove partial or entire kidney stones
Implementation Method 2
selectively constrict, close, and open the irrigation tube to irrigate an area of treatment
Data Source
AI summary
Kidney stone removal system is disclosed having components including a handle mechanism, a nozzle tip, and a guiding device. The handle mechanism employs a trigger that enables control of irrigation and vacuum/suction. Depression of a trigger in the trigger mechanism conveys status of vacuum/suction and irrigation to a user by providing increased resistance at different points of depression. When the trigger is in a home (undepressed) position, irrigation and vacuum/suction are turned off. When the trigger is in a fully depressed position, irrigation and vacuum/suction are turned on. When the trigger is in an intermediate position, irrigation may be turned on, while vacuum/suction remains turned off. The nozzle includes one or more irrigation ports positioned at a distal end of the nozzle and having an irrigation port departure angle of 30 to 60 degrees for directing irrigation fluid forward and laterally from the distal end of the nozzle. The guiding device is configured to be removably positioned in the nozzle for receiving a debris fragmentizing device, such as a laser device. The guiding device is configured to prevent an unintended movement of the fragmentizing device when the fragmentizing device is positioned in the nozzle while allowing fluid and debris to flow past the fragmentizing device and through a vacuum tube.