Mixing Nozzle Turbulent Flow for Liquid Embolic Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current liquid embolic compositions require continuous mixing for 20 minutes to achieve adequate suspension of contrast agents, leading to potential settling and poor visualization during delivery, which can result in incorrect placement or premature solidification during vascular procedures.
Innovation Solution
A mixing nozzle with multiple individual channels that create a turbulent flow effect, allowing for uniform mixing and suspension of contrast agents within the composition, eliminating the need for pre-procedure mixing and enhancing visualization during injection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If liquid embolic composition is continuously mixed for 20 minutes in a vial, then adequate suspension of contrast agent is achieved, but treatment time is increased and contrast agent may still settle during delivery delays
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing nozzle performs mixing action immediately before delivery, eliminating the need for prolonged pre-mixing in the vial. The arcuate flow paths create turbulent mixing in real-time, ensuring contrast agent suspension is achieved right before injection without requiring 20 minutes of continuous mixing beforehand.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing nozzle utilizes fluid dynamic principles to create turbulent flow through arcuate paths, generating mixing action through the movement and interaction of fluid streams. This hydraulic mixing mechanism achieves adequate suspension without requiring extended mixing time or additional mechanical agitation devices.
2Loss of time
If liquid embolic composition is not continuously mixed, then treatment time is reduced, but contrast agent settling occurs causing poor visualization during injection
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing nozzle performs self-mixing of the liquid embolic composition through its internal arcuate flow paths. The device automatically creates turbulent flow and mixes the contrast agent suspension without requiring external mixing equipment or prolonged preparation time, ensuring adequate visualization is achieved right before delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing channels incorporate arcuate flow paths that introduce radial and longitudinal velocity components, transforming the flow from simple linear movement to three-dimensional turbulent flow. This dimensional change in flow pattern enhances mixing efficiency and maintains contrast agent suspension without requiring extended mixing time.
3Stability of the object's composition
If mixing is performed in a vial before delivery, then contrast agent suspension is achieved, but delays between mixing and delivery cause contrast agent settling and poor visualization
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing nozzle performs mixing action immediately before delivery, eliminating the time gap between mixing and injection. By integrating the mixing function into the delivery device itself, the system ensures contrast agent suspension is achieved right before use, eliminating the settling problem that occurs during delays between vial mixing and catheter delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing function and delivery function are merged into a single integrated device - the mixing nozzle. This combination eliminates the separate steps of vial mixing followed by catheter delivery, ensuring that mixing occurs continuously up to the moment of injection, thereby maintaining contrast agent suspension stability throughout the delivery process.
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
The mixing nozzle ensures uniform distribution of the liquid embolic composition and contrast agent, improving visualization and reducing treatment time by mixing the components in real-time, thereby ensuring accurate delivery to the intended vascular site.
Implementation Method 1
The mixing nozzle is configured to relatively uniformly mix a medical agent, such as a liquid embolic composition containing a contrast agent... The mixing channels advantageously configured to create a turbulent effect within the medical agent thereby mixing and distributing the contents of the agent
Data Source
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AI summary
A mixing nozzle includes at least two individual mixing channels dimensioned to create a turbulent flow effect to facilitate dispersion of the components of a medical agent, such as a liquid embolic composition, during delivery, e.g., to vasculature of a subject. In some examples, the mixing nozzle is configured to be mechanically and fluidically connected to a syringe, a catheter, or both the syringe and the catheter.