Palate Implant Insertion Tool with Depth Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for snoring and sleep apnea are not effective and have side effects, particularly those involving implants in the airways, which require improved systems and methods for inserting and verifying the proper placement of implants in the airway passage tissue without causing unwanted perforations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for inserting implants into a cavity in the periosteum region of the palate using a sheath with an insertion depth mark and a pusher with a lumen for fluid communication, allowing verification of cavity depth and absence of perforations through saline solution injection, ensuring safe and effective implant placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If implants are inserted into the airway passage tissue to treat snoring and sleep apnea, then treatment efficacy is improved, but the risk of unwanted perforations and complications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is created and verified for proper depth and integrity before implant insertion. The depth mark on the delivery tool ensures the cavity is prepared to the correct depth, and saline injection tests for perforations are performed beforehand, preventing complications during implant placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback through depth marks on the delivery tool that indicate when the cavity reaches the proper depth, and through saline injection tests that reveal whether perforations are present. This feedback mechanism allows the operator to adjust and verify conditions before final implant insertion.
2Ease of operation
If the insertion depth is not precisely controlled, then the implant placement becomes simpler, but the accuracy of implant positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery tool is self-regulating with depth marks that automatically indicate when the correct insertion depth is reached. The tool itself provides the guidance and control mechanism, eliminating the need for complex external measurement systems while ensuring accurate implant placement.
3Productivity
If the cavity depth is not verified before implant insertion, then the procedure time is reduced, but the risk of improper implant placement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity depth is verified using the depth mark on the delivery tool before implant insertion occurs. This preliminary verification step is integrated into the workflow, allowing quick visual confirmation that does not significantly extend procedure time while ensuring proper placement accuracy.
4Reliability
If perforation detection methods are added to verify proper cavity formation, then placement safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Saline solution injection is used to detect perforations in the cavity. This hydraulic method provides a simple yet effective way to verify cavity integrity - if saline leaks into the oral cavity, it indicates a perforation. This approach avoids complex electronic or imaging-based detection systems.
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 solution enables precise and safe insertion of implants into the airway passage tissue, verifying proper depth and absence of perforations, thereby improving treatment efficacy for snoring and sleep apnea while minimizing complications.
Implementation Method 1
a lumen extending from said proximal side to said distal side of said rigid body, the lumen being configured for fluid communication with a syringe at the proximal end and being in fluid communication with the sheath at the distal end
Data Source
AI summary
A method for inserting an implant into a cavity in a periosteum region of a patient's palate. The method includes cutting the periosteum region with a sharp surgical tool to create a cavity, inserting a distal end of a sleeve comprising a substantially flat pouch and an implant housed within the substantially flat pouch into the cavity, and pulling a handle extending proximally from the sleeve in a proximal direction while holding a stylet disposed with the handle in a fixed contact with the implant, thus deploying the implant inside the cavity.