Magnetic Coupling for Percutaneous Fluidic Connections
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current external percutaneous connections for accessing internal organs or bodily lumens often require guidewires, pull wires, or delivery through the upper GI tract, which can be invasive and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an elongate endoscope with an internal magnet at its distal end and an external magnet on the skin, allowing for magnetic coupling to create a percutaneous fluidic connection without the need for guidewires or upper GI tract delivery, using an end cap with a tube and magnets to facilitate the insertion of a tubular medical device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If guidewires or pull wires are used for percutaneous connections, then the device can be delivered through the upper GI tract, but the procedure becomes more invasive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for guidewires and pull wires from the procedure by using a magnetic coupling system. The internal magnet attached to the endoscope and external magnet on the skin create direct magnetic attraction, removing the intermediate guidewire component and simplifying the overall procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical guidewire/pull wire system with a magnetic field-based coupling system. The magnetic attraction between internal and external magnets provides the necessary force for device delivery without requiring physical wires to traverse the GI tract, reducing invasiveness and procedure time.
2Device complexity
If traditional percutaneous connections are used, then access to internal organs is achieved, but the procedure requires complex delivery mechanisms through the upper GI tract
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical delivery mechanisms with a magnetic coupling system. The magnetic attraction between internal and external magnets provides intuitive alignment and secure attachment, simplifying the device placement process while reducing the complexity of required delivery mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field acts as an intermediary between the endoscope and external devices, enabling force transmission and alignment without direct mechanical contact or complex wire-based mechanisms. This magnetic intermediary simplifies the overall system while maintaining effective coupling.
3Ease of operation
If magnets are used for magnetic coupling, then guidewires and upper GI tract delivery are eliminated, but the magnetic coupling strength must be sufficient to maintain connection through body tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes magnetic coupling strength by adjusting magnet size, material properties, and spacing parameters. The internal and external magnets are designed with specific magnetic field strengths and configurations to ensure sufficient coupling force penetrates through body tissues while maintaining procedural simplicity.
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 fast and reliable placement of tubular medical devices, such as PEG tubes, by magnetically coupling the endoscope to the skin, reducing invasiveness and improving the efficiency of creating fluidic connections for various medical applications.
Implementation Method 1
an external magnet configured for mating with the internal magnet, wherein the external magnet defines an aperture, wherein the external magnet is attracted to the internal magnet
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a system and method for creating a percutaneous fluidic connection. In one embodiment, the system includes an endoscope having an end cap with a tube that defines a distal cavity and an internal magnet circumferentially arranged around the distal end of the tube. The internal magnet is delivered into the patient's stomach and pressed against an inner wall of the stomach. An external magnet is placed on an external surface of the patient's skin corresponding to the location of the internal magnet and the inner and external magnets are coupled together. An incision is made through the skin to access the distal cavity, and an overtube containing a PEG device is inserted into the distal cavity. The magnets are decoupled and removed, leaving the overtube in place, which is subsequently retracted from the PEG device, allowing the PEG device to be anchored in place.