Needle Trajectory Indicator for Implantable Infusion Ports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable infusion devices face challenges in ensuring accurate needle placement into the drug reservoir, leading to potential dire consequences due to misalignment or incomplete filling, as current port locator devices lack intuitive user interfaces for proper alignment.
Innovation Solution
A system employing a graphical interface with a two-dimensional bubble style level indicator to display trajectory error between the desired and actual needle trajectory relative to the port, using a receiver apparatus to determine the needle's orientation and a processor to graphically render the alignment, where the needle is represented as an object moveable relative to a target structure, indicating alignment when the object occupies the reference area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional port locator devices are used to determine needle alignment, then the needle placement accuracy can be improved, but the user interface complexity increases making it less intuitive
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses color-coded indicators where a green bubble signifies proper needle alignment and a red bubble indicates misalignment. This color-changing mechanism provides immediate, intuitive visual feedback to users about needle placement accuracy without requiring complex interpretations of alignment data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a graphical representation or copy of the needle's actual position and orientation relative to the port. This visual copy is displayed on the user interface, allowing users to easily understand the alignment status without needing to interpret complex spatial coordinates or technical measurements.
2Ease of operation
If graphical interface is used to display trajectory alignment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential alignment information from the complex needle insertion process and presents it through a simplified graphical interface. By taking out just the critical trajectory data and displaying it as a simple bubble indicator, the system avoids overwhelming users with unnecessary technical details while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The graphical interface acts as an intermediary between the complex needle positioning system and the user. It translates complex spatial and orientational data into a simple visual metaphor (bubble position and color) that users can easily interpret, thereby reducing the perceived system complexity without sacrificing measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes (i) a needle for insertion into a port of an implantable infusion device, and (ii) a receiver apparatus having a port location signal receiver module capable of receiving a signal from the implantable infusion device regarding spatial orientation of the port. The system further includes a processor operably coupled to the receiver apparatus and capable of determining the orientation of the needle relative to the port based on the received signal. The system also includes a display operably coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to cause the display to graphically render trajectory of the needle relative to the port. The port is graphically rendered as a target structure having a reference area. The needle is graphically rendered as an object moveable relative to the target structure. Occupation of the reference area by the object indicates trajectory alignment of the port and the needle.