Nasal Bridle Insertion Guide with Switchable Tip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for inserting nasal bridles are uncomfortable, costly, and pose risks due to the use of rare-earth magnets and lack of purpose-designed equipment, leading to discomfort and increased healthcare costs.
Innovation Solution
A flexible resilient elongated insertion guide with a switchable tip configuration and a thin introducer to guide the bridle tape around the nasal septum, minimizing discomfort and cost by using a more affordable and safer design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If purpose-designed insertion equipment is used, then insertion comfort and safety are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion guide is divided into distinct functional segments: a flexible resilient body for navigation, a tip portion for directional control, and an exit aperture for precise introducer placement. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally while keeping the overall device manageable in complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion guide acts as an intermediary device that facilitates the placement of the introducer and nasal bridle without requiring complex magnetic or surgical equipment. It provides a controlled pathway that mediates between the external environment and the nasal passages, simplifying the insertion process
2Reliability
If rare-earth magnets are used for insertion, then securing effectiveness is improved, but cost and safety concerns worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the harmful magnetic component from the system entirely, replacing it with a purely mechanical insertion guide and introducer mechanism. This extraction eliminates the safety concerns associated with rare-earth magnets while maintaining the effectiveness of the nasal bridle placement through controlled physical guidance
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion guide and introducer are designed as disposable, cost-effective devices that eliminate the need for expensive rare-earth magnets. These single-use components achieve the necessary securing effectiveness through their mechanical design rather than through costly magnetic materials
3Device complexity
If current insertion methods are used, then procedure simplicity is maintained, but patient trauma and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion guide is constructed from flexible resilient material that can conform to the nasal passage anatomy, reducing trauma to delicate tissues. This flexibility allows the guide to navigate the curved nasal passages smoothly without causing injury, while the thin-walled construction minimizes tissue displacement and discomfort
Solution Approach 2:
The tip portion of the insertion guide features a curved configuration with an exit aperture positioned to direct the introducer along a natural curvature path through the nasal passages. This curved design follows the anatomical contours of the nasal septum and turbinates, reducing sharp angles and points that could cause trauma
4Reliability
If frequent tube replacements are needed, then nutrition delivery is compromised, but healthcare costs and risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The nasal bridle is pre-positioned and securely anchored to the nasal septum before feeding tube insertion. This preliminary securing action ensures that once the feeding tube is attached to the bridle, it remains stable and unlikely to become dislodged, eliminating the need for frequent replacements and the associated risks and costs
Data Source
AI summary
A device to assist with the insertion of a nasal bridle includes an insertion guide and an introducer that is attached to bridle tape. The guide is switchable between two configurations: a substantially straight configuration and a second configuration in which an exit aperture at an upper end of the guide is either at a downwardly oriented angle and/or displaced laterally from the guide longitudinal axis, for example by causing the upper end of the guide to adopt a u-bend. The guide is inserted into a nostril while straight and then adopts its second configuration. The introducer is pushed through the guide and, at the exit, is guided beyond the septum into and out of the opposite nostril. Introducer and tape are pulled through the nasal passage before removing the guide. The guide therefore ensures that introducer and tape are held clear of the septum, reducing discomfort.