Movable Sheath Injection Device for Minimally Invasive Fluid Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive medical procedures face challenges in safely and accurately injecting fluids into target tissues due to the risk of puncturing non-target tissues and the need for precise needle placement and control.
Innovation Solution
An injection device featuring a fixed injection needle coupled with a movable sheath controlled by a positioner, allowing independent movement of the sheath relative to the plunger, which can enclose or expose the needle to prevent accidental punctures and ensure precise delivery of fluids into target tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the needle is inserted through a port at a distance far from the operator, then minimally invasive procedures can be performed, but safety concerns arise due to easy puncture of non-target tissues and inadvertent puncture or piercing through tissues or organs
Solution Approach 1:
A controllable sheath is introduced as an intermediary component between the operator and the target tissue. The sheath can be extended to expose the needle tip for injection or retracted to cover the needle, acting as a safety mediator that prevents accidental punctures while allowing controlled access to target tissues during minimally invasive procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The needle sheath is designed with dynamic extendable and retractable capabilities. The sheath can be extended to expose the needle tip when needle puncture is desired, and retracted to cover the needle tip when puncture should be prevented. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt between safety mode and injection mode, resolving the contradiction between operational capability and safety risk
2Ease of operation
If the needle is extended distally beyond the distal end of a sheath, then injection into target tissue can be performed, but the risk of accidental puncture increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle sheath implements dynamic extension and retraction mechanisms that allow the operator to control needle exposure. The sheath can be extended to expose the needle tip for injection into target tissue, and retracted to cover the needle tip to prevent accidental punctures. This dynamic control enables the system to switch between safe retracted state and functional extended state, resolving the safety-operational contradiction
3Measurement precision
If the sheath is movable around the injection needle, then precise control of needle exposure can be achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The injection needle is nested within the hollow sheath structure. The sheath provides a protective enclosure for the needle while allowing controlled exposure through extension and retraction. This nested configuration enables precise control of needle exposure without requiring complex external control mechanisms, as the sheath itself serves as both protective covering and control interface
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided herein is an injection device that can be used in minimally invasive procedures, such as laparoscopic surgeries, for direct administration of a fluid, such as a therapeutic, to a target tissue or organ.