Needle Delivery Device with Guide Tube for Precision Nerve Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for delivering needles, wires, or cannulas to specific anatomical locations lack precision and guidance, leading to suboptimal nerve stimulation and discomfort in treatments like pelvic health disorders.
Innovation Solution
A device utilizing an anatomic landmark and directional elements to precisely control the depth and direction of needle placement, featuring a circular positioning ring, cone-shaped rotational element, and coupling mechanism, along with a guide tube and adjustable positioning arm to facilitate accurate percutaneous delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If transcutaneous stimulators are used to avoid skin penetration, then patient comfort is improved, but stimulation precision and effectiveness deteriorate due to large target area and higher current requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a needle that can be dynamically adjusted between retracted and extended positions within the guide tube. This dynamic configuration allows the system to maintain a non-invasive external structure while enabling precise percutaneous needle delivery when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between patient comfort and stimulation precision
Solution Approach 2:
The guide tube serves as an intermediary structure that provides a controlled pathway for needle delivery. It maintains a stable external framework for patient comfort while enabling precise needle positioning through its internal channel, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of comfort and precision
2Measurement precision
If implantable stimulators are used for direct nerve stimulation, then stimulation effectiveness is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to implant-site pain and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from a static percutaneous needle to a dynamic system where the needle can be inserted, positioned, and then retracted. This allows the benefits of direct nerve stimulation to be achieved temporarily during treatment, while the patient avoids the long-term discomfort of an implanted device
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables preliminary needle insertion and positioning through the guide tube before final stimulation. This allows precise nerve targeting to be achieved without committing to permanent implantation, thus achieving effective stimulation while avoiding implant-related discomfort
3Device complexity
If manual needle insertion is used without guidance devices, then device complexity is reduced, but positioning precision deteriorates leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: an external guide tube for structural support and stability, and an internal needle for stimulation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity, achieving precise positioning without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The guide tube acts as an intermediary structure that provides geometric constraints and directional guidance for needle insertion. This simple mechanical guide enables precise positioning through its physical structure alone, without requiring complex electronic or computational systems
Data Source
AI summary
A device that uses an anatomic landmark or fiduciary point to establish a point of origin for device orientation in space is provided. The device controls the direction and depth of delivery of a needle, wire, trocar or cannula utilized for diagnostic or therapeutic intervention. The device guides the percutaneous delivery of a needle, wire, trocar or cannula to a target spatial location on or within tissue.