Lumbar Puncture Assist Tool Angle Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The success of lumbar puncture procedures largely depends on the skill and experience of healthcare professionals due to the difficulty in achieving proper needle placement and angle, often resulting in complications such as missed spinal canals, dry or bloody taps, and increased radiation exposure.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that provide a guide for maintaining the proper insertion angle and stability of the needle, utilizing a T-shaped tool with radio-opaque markers for precise positioning, which can be used with or without fluoroscopy or ultrasound guidance, and is designed to facilitate successful and safe lumbar punctures, especially in challenging cases like obese or agitated patients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the traditional Surface Landmarks Technique is used, then the procedure can be performed with simple equipment, but the success rate depends heavily on the skill and experience of the healthcare professional
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a positioning device as an intermediary tool between the traditional surface landmarks technique and the needle insertion. This device includes a guide needle, positioning needle, and scale markings that mediate the placement process, providing objective guidance rather than relying solely on practitioner skill. The device acts as a mediator that translates anatomical landmarks into precise needle insertion parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by using a guide needle and positioning needle to establish the correct insertion point and angle before the actual lumbar puncture needle is inserted. The guide needle is inserted first to identify the precise location, followed by the positioning needle to mark the entry point. This preliminary positioning ensures that the subsequent needle insertion follows the predetermined correct path, reducing dependence on practitioner experience.
2Manufacturing precision
If fluoroscopy or ultrasound guidance is used to improve accuracy, then needle placement precision increases, but radiation exposure or equipment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning device serves as a simplified intermediary that provides guidance without requiring complex fluoroscopy or ultrasound equipment. The device uses physical guide needles, positioning needles, and scale markings as mediators to achieve precise needle placement, replacing the need for advanced imaging technology while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable guide needles and positioning needles that are inexpensive and single-use. These disposable components provide the necessary guidance function without the need for expensive, complex imaging equipment. The guide needle and positioning needle are discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for costly imaging infrastructure while achieving precise placement.
3Ease of operation
If the needle is held manually during insertion, then the procedure is simple to perform, but needle stability is insufficient when patients move
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the guide needle, positioning needle, and lumbar puncture needle into a coordinated sequence of operations. The guide needle and positioning needle are used to establish stability and correct positioning before the final needle insertion. This merging of multiple functions into a sequential process maintains simplicity while achieving stability, as each component builds upon the previous one to ensure proper placement even if the patient moves.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a tool and method for performing a lumbar puncture. The tool may include a first arm and a second arm and may form a T-shape. The first arm may be longer than the second arm. Also included is a projection extending from one of the arms. The projection has a downward angle and a passageway that is sized to accommodate a needle. The tool is configured to maintain the perpendicular placement of a needle between vertebrae and a preferred angle of insertion of about 15° during a procedure.