Mechanical Dilator With Fulcrum Lock-and-Stop Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The process of dilating tissue around a medical device insertion site is often cumbersome and prone to over-expansion due to visual determination, requiring multiple instruments and steps, which can be improved with a single instrument that provides precise dilation.

Innovation Solution

A mechanical dilator with a first arm coupled to a second arm by a fulcrum, featuring a lock and stop mechanism to limit lateral movement, allowing transition between closed and opened configurations for controlled tissue expansion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple instruments and visual determination are used for tissue dilation, then the clinician can perform the procedure with available tools, but the tissue expansion becomes imprecise and prone to over-expansion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue expansion precisionVSAvoidnumber of instruments

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple dilation instruments and functions into a single mechanical dilator device with integrated arms, fulcrum, and lock-and-stop mechanism. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate instruments while providing precise controlled expansion through the built-in mechanical stopping mechanism that prevents over-dilation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces visual determination with a mechanical measurement and control system. The lock-and-stop mechanism provides physical, predetermined expansion limits that substitute for subjective visual assessment, ensuring precise and repeatable tissue dilation without relying on clinician judgment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If multiple steps with multiple instruments are used, then various dilation functions can be achieved, but the procedure time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedure efficiencyVSAvoidprocedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical dilator integrates multiple dilation functions and steps into a single device that can perform sequential expansion in one continuous action. The interconnected arms and fulcrum mechanism allow the device to progress through predetermined expansion stages without requiring instrument changes or additional procedural steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lock-and-stop mechanism is pre-configured with predetermined expansion limits before the procedure begins. This preliminary setup of mechanical stops eliminates the need for real-time decision-making about expansion程度, allowing the clinician to simply advance the device through pre-programmed safe expansion stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If visual determination is used to assess tissue expansion, then the clinician can monitor the procedure, but over-expansion occurs leading to tissue damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue expansion controlVSAvoidtissue over-expansion damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces unreliable visual assessment with a reliable mechanical control system. The lock-and-stop mechanism provides physical, predetermined expansion limits that substitute for subjective visual assessment, ensuring precise and repeatable tissue dilation without relying on clinician judgment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical stop mechanism is pre-configured to prevent over-expansion before it can occur. By establishing physical limits in advance, the system counteracts the tendency toward over-dilation that arises from visual determination, automatically stopping expansion at safe predetermined points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 precise and controlled tissue dilation using a single instrument, preventing over-expansion and ensuring consistent insertion site size for medical devices.

Implementation Method 1

a first arm coupled to a second arm by a fulcrum... wherein the fulcrum is configured to translate lateral movement of the first arm relative to the second arm to lateral movement of the first side relative to the second side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical leverage: Lever

Data Source

PatentUS12440657B2Mechanical dilator

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 BARD ACCESS SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

A mechanical dilator is disclosed, which can include a first arm coupled to a second arm by a fulcrum, the first arm and the second arm cooperatively defining a lock and stop mechanism configured to limit lateral movement of the first arm with respect to the second arm. The mechanical dilator can further include a dilator body having a first side extending from the first arm and a second side extending from the second arm, where the fulcrum is configured to translate lateral movement of the first arm relative to the second arm to lateral movement of the first side relative to the second side.