Lymphangiogenesis Inducing Device With Foldable Protrusions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lymphangiogenesis inducing devices are not highly effective in promoting lymphangiogenesis, particularly in treating lymphedema resulting from lymphatic vessel blockages, which can lead to chronic conditions like swelling and sensory paralysis.
Innovation Solution
A lymphangiogenesis inducing device featuring an outer needle with a through-hole and an inner needle having a wound imparting structure with protrusions that cause minor wounds in the subcutaneous tissue, allowing for the indwelling of an implant to promote lymphangiogenesis, combined with a folding mechanism for increased wound area and operability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple filamentous substance implantation procedure is used, then the procedure simplicity is improved, but the lymphangiogenesis effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is divided into an outer needle and an inner needle that can move independently. The inner needle with protrusions can protrude from the outer needle to create multiple minor wounds, while the outer needle provides structural support and containment. This segmentation allows the device to maintain simplicity of use while achieving effective lymphangiogenesis through multiple wound channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner needle is designed to be movable relative to the outer needle, allowing it to dynamically protrude and retract. This dynamic configuration enables the protrusions to engage with the tissue only when needed for creating wound channels, while maintaining a compact structure during insertion and removal. The movable inner needle thus bridges the gap between simple procedure and effective lymphangiogenesis.
2Reliability
If multiple protrusions are used to create more wounds, then the lymphangiogenesis effect is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner needle with multiple protrusions is nested within the outer needle. This nesting arrangement allows multiple wound-creating protrusions to be contained within a single outer needle structure, maintaining device simplicity while enabling the creation of multiple minor wounds. The nested configuration avoids the need for multiple separate needles or complex mechanisms, thus improving lymphangiogenesis effect without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the protrusions are folded during insertion, then the ease of insertion is improved, but the wound area coverage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions are designed to be foldable, transitioning from a compressed folded state during insertion to an unfolded state during tissue engagement. This dynamic transformation allows the device to easily penetrate the skin and subcutaneous tissue with compact protrusions, then expand to create a larger wound area for effective lymphangiogenesis. The foldable design thus resolves the contradiction between ease of insertion and wound area coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A lymphangiogenesis inducing device includes: an outer needle including a needle point insertable into a subcutaneous tissue, and a through-hole extending in an axial direction and penetrating the outer needle; and an inner needle inserted into the through-hole. The inner needle includes a cavity portion extending along the axial direction, and a wound imparting structure that is formed in a part of a distal end configured to protrude past the needle point of the outer needle and configured to cause a wound on the subcutaneous tissue. The wound imparting structure includes one or more protrusions protruding outward from the inner needle.