Controlled Nail Penetration Device with Feedback Stop
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for penetrating nails to treat infections like Onychomycosis lack effective control systems to prevent the cutter from overrunning into the sensitive nail bed, causing pain and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A device with a control system that monitors the position and force of the cutter, automatically stopping its advancement once it breaks through the nail to prevent entry into the nail bed, using sensors and motors to ensure precise control and prevent overrunning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a drill or cutter is used to penetrate the nail to deliver treatment to the nail bed, then the efficacy of antifungal treatment is improved, but the risk of piercing the sensitive nail bed and causing pain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the position of the cutter relative to the nail surface and provides feedback control to stop the cutter at the precise moment it penetrates the nail, preventing further advancement into the nail bed. This closed-loop control ensures accurate depth control without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical control with an automated control system that uses sensors and motors to precisely control the cutter's advancement. This substitution eliminates the reliance on user skill and manual depth estimation, providing consistent and accurate penetration depth control.
2Device complexity
If manual drilling through the nail is performed relying on user skill, then the device complexity is reduced, but the precision of penetration depth control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically monitors its own operation and self-regulates the cutter's advancement based on real-time position feedback. The system serves itself by detecting when the cutter has penetrated the nail and automatically stopping, eliminating the need for external manual control while maintaining high precision.
3Ease of operation
If the cutter is advanced manually through the nail, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of preventing overrun into the nail bed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the cutter position and provides real-time feedback to automatically stop advancement when the nail is penetrated. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable depth control without requiring complex manual operation or user skill.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for penetrating human nails as a part of treatment for Onychomycosis, commonly known as fungal nail. The device comprises a reusable electromechanical system and a single use cutting component. The electromechanical system incorporates an electrical motor and drive train to advance the cutting component through the nail. The electromechanical system also incorporates sensors for measuring the cutting resistance for the purpose of preventing the cutting device from overrunning into the nail bed. The device can be used to penetrate the nail in a controlled manner which will create a portal through the nail without penetrating the nail bed below the nail.