Particle-Size Controlled Agent Delivery Receiver for Clog-Resistant Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agent delivery systems for endoscopic procedures face challenges in controlling the delivery rate and size of therapeutic agents, leading to clogging and inconsistent dosing, especially when treating gastrointestinal bleeding.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with a receiver having lumens of varying cross-sectional dimensions and an interface that controls agent delivery based on particle size, combined with a plunger mechanism for precise dosing and a filter mechanism to inhibit undesired particle sizes, ensuring targeted delivery to the treatment site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pressurized fluid systems are used to deliver hemostatic agent, then the agent can be delivered to remote treatment sites, but the delivery rate and particulate size become difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system is segmented into multiple lumens of varying cross-sectional dimensions within the receiver. The first lumen receives particles from the handle, the second lumen delivers particles to the treatment site, and a third lumen (in some embodiments) provides intermediate filtering. This segmentation allows different size particles to be directed through different pathways, enabling control over both delivery rate and particulate size at the treatment site.
Solution Approach 2:
Different lumens are designed with different cross-sectional dimensions to create local quality variations. The first lumen has a larger cross-sectional dimension to accommodate the full range of particle sizes from the handle, while the second lumen has a smaller cross-sectional dimension to selectively pass only smaller particles. This local quality differentiation enables precise control over which particles reach the treatment site.
2Reliability
If larger particles are delivered to increase therapeutic effect, then dosing consistency improves, but clogging of delivery device portions occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver is divided into multiple lumens that segment the particle flow based on size. Larger particles are retained in the first lumen or diverted through the third lumen (if present), while only smaller particles proceed through the second lumen to the treatment site. This segmentation prevents clogging by ensuring that particles large enough to cause blockages do not enter the narrow delivery pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The third lumen (in embodiments where it exists) acts as an intermediary between the first lumen receiving all particles and the second lumen delivering to the treatment site. It provides an intermediate filtering stage where particles can be selectively passed or retained based on size, serving as a mediator that protects the final delivery pathway from clogging while maintaining dosing consistency.
3Productivity
If smaller particles are used to prevent clogging, then delivery reliability improves, but the therapeutic dose becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-lumen receiver segments particles by size, allowing the system to deliver an appropriate mixture of particle sizes rather than forcing all particles through a single narrow pathway. The second lumen delivers smaller particles reliably to prevent clogging, while the system overall maintains therapeutic effectiveness by managing the full particle size distribution through the segmented architecture.
4Device complexity
If a single lumen is used for agent delivery, then device complexity is reduced, but precise dosing and size-specific delivery cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver is segmented into multiple lumens with different cross-sectional dimensions, creating a size-based sorting system. The first lumen receives all particles, the second lumen selectively delivers smaller particles to the treatment site, and the third lumen (in some embodiments) provides intermediate filtering. This segmentation enables precise dosing control and size-specific delivery while maintaining a relatively simple overall device architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device that includes a handle for conveying an agent having particles and a receiver having a first lumen defined by a first end and a second end. The receiver having an axis extending between the first end and the second end. The first end configured to receive the particles from the handle, and the second end in fluid communication with a second lumen having a cross-sectional dimension smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of the first lumen. Each of the cross-sectional dimensions of the first lumen and the second lumen is measured transverse to the axis. The second end is configured to receive the particles from the first end of the receiver. The second lumen is configured to control delivery of the agent to a delivery conduit in fluid communication with the second lumen based on sizes of the particles.