Paddle Lead Insertion Tool with Segmented Gripping Rails
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in surgical procedures is the inefficient and unstable insertion of paddle-type electrodes due to the limitations of standard forceps, which often cause rotation or bending of the thin and flexible leads, hindering precise placement in target areas like the spinal cord during procedures like laminectomy.
Innovation Solution
A lead insertion tool with pivotally coupled gripping rails and adjustable legs or rail elements that can be attached to conventional forceps, allowing for secure gripping and angled placement of paddle leads, enabling efficient and stable insertion into target locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard forceps are used to grip the lead, then the lead can be held with two points of contact, but the lead rotates or flips within the forceps blades due to insufficient steering ability and secure holding
Solution Approach 1:
The forceps blades are segmented into multiple contact points along their length, allowing the lead to be gripped at multiple locations simultaneously. This segmentation provides both steering control through differential gripping at different points and stable holding through distributed contact, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
2Reliability
If excessive gripping force is applied to hold the lead securely, then the lead can be held firmly, but the electrode bends into a U-shape that hinders insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The forceps blades are designed with dynamic flexibility, allowing them to adapt their gripping force distribution along their length. The blades can flex independently to apply gentle, distributed pressure that secures the lead without creating excessive localized force that would bend the electrode into a U-shape, thus maintaining both holding security and electrode straightness.
3Reliability
If the lead is held along the lateral edges to avoid rotation, then rotation is minimized, but the thin and flexible nature of the lead causes it to flip within the blades when pressure is increased
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the forceps blades have different gripping characteristics optimized for specific functions. The lateral edge regions provide stable positioning to prevent rotation, while the distal regions provide enhanced grip strength to prevent flipping. This local differentiation of gripping quality allows the forceps to simultaneously maintain lead position stability and resistance to flipping despite the lead's thin and flexible nature.
Data Source
AI summary
A lead insertion tool includes a first leg having a first rail element pivotally coupled to the first leg distal end and a second leg having a second rail element pivotally coupled to the second leg distal end. The first rail element and the second rail element are configured to receive a lead. Medical kits and methods of using the same are also disclosed.