Monocanalicular Intubation Assembly with Reversible Mandrel Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing monocanalicular intubation assemblies require general anesthesia and risky nasal manipulation to extract the mandrel, complicating the unclogging of blocked tear ducts, especially in infants.
Innovation Solution
A monocanalicular and/or monocanaliculonasal intubation assembly with a shorter silicone tube and a mandrel that is partially inserted into the tube, allowing extraction from the eye side, eliminating the need for nasal intervention and reducing the risk of reactive hyperplasia through a designed stopper and slit configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mandrel is extracted from the nasal side, then the tear duct can be unclogged, but the procedure requires general anesthesia and carries significant risks
Solution Approach 1:
The mandrel is extracted from the ocular side (opposite to the conventional nasal side extraction). The assembly is introduced from the eye side, and the mandrel is pulled out through the same eye side, completely avoiding nasal manipulation and the associated risks of general anesthesia
2Length of moving object
If a long silicone tube is used to reach the nasal end, then the tear duct can be traversed, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mandrel is extracted from the ocular side rather than being pulled through to the nasal side. This eliminates the need for a long silicone tube extending to the nasal end, as the mandrel removal path is reversed, thereby reducing material usage and manufacturing cost
3Ease of operation
If the tube opens at the proximal end, then the mandrel can pass through, but the canalicular epithelium undergoes reactive hyperplasia
Solution Approach 1:
A slit opening is created in the tube wall instead of a proximal end opening. This localized modification allows mandrel passage while preventing the canalicular epithelium from colonizing the opening, thus avoiding reactive hyperplasia. The slit is positioned and dimensioned to permit mandrel insertion while blocking epithelial ingrowth
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a monocanaliculonasal and/or monocanalicular intubation assembly mainly intended for nasolacrimal imperforation, comprising a mandrel (2) made of a first essentially rigid material such as a metal, and a tube (1) made of a second material that is essentially less rigid than the first one and essentially flexible, mainly silicone, a blocking plug (6) for blocking the tube in position in the lacrimal duct and protruding laterally from the tube, characterised in that the length dimension of the tube (1) is smaller than the length dimension of the mandrel (2) and in that the mandrel has a thickness, as measured in a direction perpendicular to the length direction, relative to that of the tube (1) such that it can be inserted inside the tube and withdrawn therefrom.