Multiple Needle Injector for Tissue Expansion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current tissue expansion procedures for breast reconstruction and other applications are bottlenecked by the slow flow rate of sterile saline through a single 21 gauge needle, leading to prolonged filling times in the operating room.
Innovation Solution
A fluid injector apparatus using a plurality of needles, connected via tubing and a base fluid injection system, to increase linear flow velocity and reduce procedure time during tissue expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single 21 gauge needle is used for fluid injection, then the port integrity is maintained, but the flow rate is slow and procedure time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The single needle injection system is segmented into multiple needles (typically 3-6 needles) arranged in a bundle. Each needle maintains the necessary port integrity while collectively providing increased flow capacity. The segmentation allows the system to overcome the bottleneck of a single narrow needle by distributing fluid flow through multiple parallel pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple needles are merged into a single integrated injection apparatus with a common hub or framework. This combination allows the needles to function as a unified system that can insert simultaneously into the port and deliver fluid at combined flow rates, achieving both port integrity and increased productivity.
2Productivity
If a larger needle is used to increase flow rate, then the flow velocity increases, but the port leaks due to core out of silicone
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one large needle that would compromise port integrity, the system segments the injection function into multiple smaller needles. Each needle has a diameter that maintains silicone integrity upon insertion, while the collective effect of multiple needles provides the necessary total flow rate. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between flow rate and port integrity.
3Productivity
If multiple needles are used to increase flow rate, then the flow velocity increases four-fold, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple needles are merged into a single integrated apparatus with a common hub, framework, or bundle structure. This merging approach provides the complexity benefit of multiple needles (increased flow rate) while minimizing the actual structural complexity through unified design elements that hold and position the needles collectively, rather than requiring separate complex mechanisms for each needle.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid injection device can include a plurality of needles, a hub from which the needles project, and a base component. The hub can have a directing portion extending therefrom. The plurality of needles can each be in fluid communication with a respective needle base, and the needle bases can at least partially surround the directing portion. The directing portion can extend in a direction away from the hub for diverting flow toward the plurality of needle bases. The base component can be separate from and coupleable to the hub such that when coupled thereto, the hub directing portion extends into a cavity of the base component upstream of the plurality of needle bases.