Pulsating Flow Apparatus Inertance Control for Surgical Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pulsating flow generating apparatuses for medical applications often suffer from fluid leakage before reaching the required flow rate or pressure for incising or ablating anatomy, which reduces operational efficiency and safety by obscuring the field of operation.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes an inlet and outlet flow channel, a volume changing unit, and a discharge flow channel with an opening and closing valve, where the synthetic inertance of the discharge flow channel is set to be smaller than the outlet flow channel, and the volume changing unit operation is synchronized with the valve's opening and closing to control fluid flow, preventing unnecessary fluid from exiting the nozzle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the fluid is supplied to the fluid chamber by a pump, then the fluid can be delivered to the injection system, but the fluid flows out from the nozzle before reaching the required flow rate or pressure for incising or ablating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flow rateVSAvoidoperational safety

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic compression and expansion of the fluid chamber to generate pulsed fluid flow. The compression phase builds pressure and the expansion phase creates suction, resulting in rhythmic pulsating flow that delivers fluid at required velocities only when necessary, preventing premature discharge

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The fluid chamber is pre-filled with fluid before compression begins. The volume changing unit pre-compresses the fluid during the compression phase, building up sufficient pressure and velocity before the fluid is discharged through the nozzle, ensuring the fluid reaches required parameters before injection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the fluid flows out from the nozzle before reaching required flow rate or pressure, then the injection system operates continuously, but the visibility of the field of operation is exacerbated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjection continuityVSAvoidfield of operation visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The pulsating flow mechanism creates intermittent rather than continuous discharge. Fluid is injected in discrete pulses at high velocity only when the compression phase completes, leaving intervals of no flow that allow the surgical field to remain clear and visible

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts what would be harmful continuous flow (obscuring visibility) into beneficial pulsed flow. The periodic nature of the volume changing unit transforms continuous fluid supply into controlled pulses, where the 'harm' of fluid discharge is confined to brief moments and the 'benefit' of clear visibility is maintained during intervals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of operation

If the synthetic inertance of the discharge flow channel is made smaller than the outlet flow channel, then fluid preferentially flows toward the discharge flow channel, but this requires precise inertance matching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flow controlVSAvoidinertance configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the inertance parameter of the flow channels to control fluid distribution. By making the discharge flow channel have smaller inertance than the outlet flow channel, the system exploits inertial differences to preferentially direct fluid toward discharge during expansion phase, providing passive flow control without additional actuators

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 configuration enhances visibility by preventing fluid from flowing out during operation, allowing for increased pressure and efficient pulsating flow injection, thereby improving the efficiency and safety of surgical procedures.

Implementation Method 1

the synthetic inertance of the discharge flow channel is set to be smaller than the synthetic inertance of the outlet flow channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInertance: Inertia

Data Source

PatentUS9097248B2Pulsating flow generating apparatus and method of controlling pulsating flow generating apparatus

Publication Date: 2015.08.04 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

Pulsating flow generating apparatus that changes the volume of a fluid chamber and injects fluid from a fluid injection opening in a pulsed manner, includes: an inlet flow channel for supplying fluid from a fluid supplying unit to the fluid chamber; a volume changing unit that changes the volume of the fluid chamber; an outlet flow channel that delivers the fluid from the fluid chamber to the fluid injection opening; a discharge flow channel that discharges the fluid from the fluid chamber; and an opening and closing valve that opens and closes the discharge flow channel, wherein the synthetic inertance of the discharge flow channel is set smaller than the synthetic inertance of the outlet flow channel, an operation of the volume changing unit is started while closing the opening and closing valve, and the operation of the volume changing unit is stopped while opening the opening and closing valve.