Lithotripsy Evacuation Pathway Control for Anti-Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Clogging of calculi fracture devices during lithotripsy procedures impedes the continuous evacuation of calculi fragments, requiring manual intervention or device replacement, which disrupts the procedure and increases operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
A lithotripsy system with a controller circuitry that detects clogging or imminent clogging through various sensors and initiates anti-clogging modes, such as altering acoustic energy, suction flow, or pressure, to prevent or remediate clogs along the evacuation pathway.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual clearing of clogs is performed, then the clog is removed, but the procedure is interrupted and operational time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects clogging conditions through sensors monitoring pressure, flow rate, or power consumption, and autonomously initiates anti-clogging modes without requiring manual intervention. The controller circuitry manages the entire process from detection to remediation, allowing the device to service itself during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors continuously monitor operational parameters (pressure differential, flow rate, power consumption) and provide feedback to the controller. When clogging is detected through these feedback signals, the system automatically adjusts its operation to prevent or clear the clog, maintaining continuous functionality.
2Ease of repair
If device disassembly is performed to clear clogs, then access to clogged portions is achieved, but device complexity increases and procedure time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-clogging modes enable the device to clear obstructions while remaining assembled. Through automatic reversal of suction flow or activation of secondary evacuation pathways, the system removes clogs without requiring disassembly, maintaining simplicity and reducing procedural complexity.
3Productivity
If suction flow is increased to prevent clogging, then fragment removal is improved, but the risk of clogging increases due to fragment accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system periodically reverses the suction flow direction or activates secondary evacuation pathways at scheduled intervals during operation. This periodic action prevents fragment accumulation by disrupting potential clogs before they form, while maintaining high productivity during normal suction phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically adjusts suction flow parameters based on real-time monitoring. When clogging is detected through sensor feedback, the system changes operational parameters such as reversing flow direction or activating alternative pathways, thereby preventing clogs while maintaining efficient fragment removal.
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 continuous operation of the lithotripsy device by automatically addressing clogs, reducing the need for manual intervention and device disassembly, and ensuring uninterrupted calculi fragment removal.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic transducer可以提供acoustic energy along the acoustically transmissive probe to treat a targeted calculi
Implementation Method 2
an evacuation pathway extending at least partially via the probe, for removing at least a portion of the one or more calculi
Data Source
AI summary
A lithotripsy system can include a lithotripsy device and controller circuitry. The device for acoustic calculi fracture can include an acoustic treatment probe for providing acoustic energy along the probe to treat one or more calculi and an evacuation pathway extending at least partially via the prob, for removing at least a portion of the one or more calculi via the evacuation pathway. The controller circuitry, coupled to the lithotripsy device, can be configured to receive an indication of clogging of the evacuation pathway and at least one of initiate or adjust a anti-clogging mode for changing at least one characteristic of evacuation via the evacuation pathway in response to the received indication of clogging.