Peripheral Nerve Fixing Apparatus Using Pneumatic Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for fixing peripheral nerves during surgeries or neuroscience studies often result in nerve damage due to compression or penetration, leading to potential nerve crush injuries and hemorrhage.
Innovation Solution
A peripheral nerve fixing apparatus that uses a suction unit with a negative pressure generating system, including a vacuum pump, regulator, and filter, to stabilize the nerve without physical compression, combined with a flexible distance adjusting mechanism and protrusions for secure contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If clamps are used to press the target tissue to fix the position, then the position fixation is achieved, but the nerve fibers inside the nerve are compressed causing nerve crush injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pneumatic suction through a suction hole to fix the peripheral nerve. The suction unit creates negative pressure that holds the nerve in position without mechanical compression, thereby achieving stable fixation while avoiding nerve crush injury that would result from clamp-based mechanical pressing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical clamp-based fixation system with a pneumatic suction system. Instead of using mechanical force through clamps that compress the nerve, the invention uses negative pressure generated by a vacuum pump to hold the nerve, substituting mechanical compression with pneumatic attraction.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a needle is used to fix the nerve, then the fixation is achieved, but the needle penetrates the nerve causing hemorrhage and tearing of nerve tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pneumatic suction through a suction hole to achieve nerve fixation without physical penetration. The negative pressure field created by the vacuum pump holds the nerve securely in place, eliminating the need for needle insertion and thereby preventing hemorrhage and tissue tearing associated with puncture-based fixation.
3Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of clamp positions is used, then the fixation position is achieved, but the adjustment precision and stability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a movable suction unit that can be dynamically adjusted to different positions along the nerve. This dynamic positioning capability allows for precise adjustment of the suction application point, improving upon the limited manual adjustment of fixed clamps while maintaining ease of operation through a adaptable design.
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 apparatus effectively minimizes nerve damage by providing stable fixation with negative pressure, allowing for precise adjustment and reducing the risk of injury during nerve surgeries and neuroscience procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a suction unit configured to provide a negative pressure to a peripheral nerve at an end portion thereof to fix the peripheral nerve
Implementation Method 2
a suction hole formed in the fixing unit so that the negative pressure is provided to the peripheral nerve therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a peripheral nerve fixing apparatus, which includes: a suction unit configured to provide a negative pressure to a peripheral nerve at an end portion thereof to fix the peripheral nerve; and a negative pressure generating unit having a vacuum pump for generating a negative pressure and connected to the suction unit so that the negative pressure is provided to the suction unit, wherein at one surface of the end portion of the suction unit, the suction unit includes: a fixing unit provided to contact the peripheral nerve to keep a stable fixed state; and a suction hole formed in the fixing unit so that the negative pressure is provided to the peripheral nerve therethrough.