Myocardial Injector Spring-Loaded Protective Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intra myocardial injections pose a risk of damaging the aortic and mitral valve apparatus and chordate tendineae due to the potential perforation of myocardial tissue by injection catheters, necessitating a solution to protect these structures during catheter advancement while ensuring effective delivery of therapeutic agents.
Innovation Solution
An injection system with a flexible array mechanism that transitions between protective and flared configurations, using a contraction spring and lever mechanism to cover and expose the needle tip, preventing tissue perforation and allowing precise control during injections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the needle is advanced to the injection site, then the therapeutic agent can be delivered to the target tissue, but the catheter may contact and perforate the myocardial wall causing injury
Solution Approach 1:
The protective array is deployed before needle advancement to preemptively protect against potential perforation injuries. The array is positioned around the needle and advanced together, creating a protective barrier before any harmful contact can occur between the catheter and myocardial tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible protective array acts as an intermediary barrier between the catheter/needle assembly and the myocardial tissue. This intermediate structure allows the needle to penetrate the tissue while preventing the catheter body from contacting and perforating the wall, thus mediating the interaction between the injection system and the organ.
2Productivity
If the needle is thrust forward to deliver the agent, then the injection can be performed, but the catheter may contact and injure the myocardial wall
Solution Approach 1:
The protective array is deployed in advance before the thrusting motion is applied to the needle. This preliminary protective measure ensures that when the needle is rapidly advanced to deliver the therapeutic agent efficiently, the catheter body is already protected and cannot contact or injure the myocardial wall during the injection process.
3Reliability
If the protective array is deployed, then the valve apparatus and chordate tendineae are protected from injury, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective array is constructed from flexible materials that can conform to the needle and catheter geometry. This flexibility allows the protective structure to be integrated into the catheter assembly without significantly increasing rigidity or mechanical complexity, while still providing effective coverage of the valve apparatus and chordate tendineae during advancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective array is designed to be dynamically deployable and retractable, transitioning between a compact state during storage and a deployed protective state during advancement. This dynamic capability allows the protection function to be activated only when needed, minimizing the impact on device complexity during non-operational phases while maintaining reliability when the array is deployed.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the needle tip is covered during advancement, then perforation is prevented, but the needle cannot be advanced to the injection site
Solution Approach 1:
The protective array is deployed in advance and positioned around the needle before advancement begins. The array and needle are then advanced together as an integrated assembly, allowing the needle tip to reach the injection site while remaining protected by the array throughout the advancement process. This preliminary deployment resolves the contradiction by ensuring protection is maintained during the entire advancement sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective array is designed with dynamic positioning capabilities that allow it to move with the needle during advancement. The array can be positioned to cover the needle tip during advancement through vulnerable areas, and then repositioned or retracted to expose the needle tip at the injection site, maintaining both protection during transit and functionality at the target.
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 system effectively protects ventricle structures and myocardial tissue from trauma, enabling safe and confident intra myocardial injections without operator disengagement, facilitating easy implementation and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a contraction spring interconnected between the distal ring member and the proximal end of the injection catheter
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for performing injections in the ventricle of a patient. The system includes an injection catheter with a proximal and distal end. Importantly, a flexible array is mounted at the distal end of the injection catheter and is moveable between a protective configuration and a flared configuration. Also, a needle of variable length is mounted on the distal end of the injection catheter and is covered by the flexible array when the array is in its protective configuration. In order to manipulate the flexible array, a locking mechanism is mounted on the proximal end of the injection catheter for engagement with the flexible array. When selectively operated, the locking mechanism moves the array from its protective configuration to the flared configuration, holds the array in its flared configuration for an injection, and subsequently moves the array back to its protective configuration.