Nested Pressure Sensor Module for Interventional Tool Tissue Characterization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current interventional medical devices, such as endoscopes, face challenges in accurately locating the distal end during medical procedures, particularly in identifying diseased tissue for biopsies and determining when tissues or organs are pierced, leading to time-consuming procedures.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a pressure sensor module within the insertion tube of the medical device, which includes a pressure sensor and a carrier positioned proximate to the tool tip, allows for real-time pressure measurements of internal tissues, enhancing tissue characterization and providing feedback for precise targeting during procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If current endoscopic procedures are used without pressure sensing, then the device structure remains simple, but the ability to locate the distal end and determine tissue piercing is difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue location detection accuracyVSAvoiddevice structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure sensor module is nested within the existing tool channel of the biopsy tool, with the carrier housing the pressure sensor inside the tool's internal structure. This allows the sensing capability to be integrated without requiring a completely new device architecture, thus improving measurement precision while limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure sensor module serves multiple functions: detecting tissue piercing events, characterizing tissue properties, and providing feedback for procedure guidance. By consolidating these diagnostic functions into a single integrated module within the existing tool channel, the system achieves enhanced measurement capabilities without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If pressure sensor module is integrated into the tool channel, then real-time pressure feedback and tissue characterization are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocedure diagnostic reliabilityVSAvoiddevice structural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure sensor module is nested within the existing tool channel of the biopsy tool, with the carrier housing the pressure sensor inside the tool's internal structure. This allows the sensing capability to be integrated without requiring a completely new device architecture, thus improving measurement precision while limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure sensor is pre-positioned within the carrier that is already designed to fit the tool channel. The carrier acts as a pre-assembled unit that can be integrated into the existing tool structure, reducing the complexity of assembly and making the integration of reliable pressure sensing more straightforward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If multiple pressure sensors are used for differential pressure measurement, then tissue characterization capability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue characterization precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple pressure sensors are nested within the single carrier structure that fits into the tool channel. This consolidated approach allows differential pressure measurement capability while maintaining a compact, manufacturable design where sensors are housed together in a predetermined configuration rather than requiring separate mounting structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple pressure sensors are combined within the single carrier assembly, merging their functions into one integrated unit. This allows the system to perform differential pressure measurements for improved tissue characterization while simplifying manufacturing by treating the multi-sensor assembly as a single modular component rather than separate installations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This solution enables more accurate and efficient medical procedures by providing real-time pressure feedback, aiding clinicians in locating the device relative to targeted tissues and improving tissue characterization, thus reducing procedural time and enhancing the precision of sample extraction.

Implementation Method 1

The pressure sensor module includes a pressure sensor and a carrier holding the pressure sensor. The carrier is coupled to the tool body to position the pressure sensor in the tool channel proximate to the tip of the tool for measuring pressure of fluid of the internal tissues of the patient.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Data Source

PatentEP4201312A1Pressure sensor module for an interventional medical device
Publication Date: 2023.06.28 CREGANNA UNLTD
  • EP4201312A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4201312A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4201312A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An interventional medical device (100) including an insertion tube (120) extending between a proximal end (102) and a distal end (104). The distal end (104) is configured to be inserted into internal tissues of a patient during a medical procedure. The insertion tube (120) has an internal channel (122). The interventional medical device (100) includes a tool (108) received in the internal channel (122) of the insertion tube (120). The tool (108) has a tool body (140) and a needle (160) at an end of the tool body (140) forming a tip (162) of the tool (108). The tool body (140) forms a tool channel (148). The interventional medical device (100) includes a pressure sensor module (200) received in the tool channel (148). The pressure sensor module (200) includes a pressure sensor (202) and a carrier (206) holding the pressure sensor (202). The carrier (206) is coupled to the tool body (140) to position the pressure sensor (202) in the tool channel (148) proximate to the tip (162) of the tool (108) for measuring pressure of fluid of the internal tissues of the patient.