Removable Dual Gold Marker Implantation Device for Radiotherapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gold markers used in radiotherapy are prone to displacement due to patient movement, leading to positioning failures and increased treatment time, and are typically one-time use, requiring multiple implantations and increased patient cost and discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A removable dual gold marker implantation device with a puncture needle and flexible connecting wire, where the gold marker head comprises a first and second gold marker connected by a flexible but incompressible connecting part, and a guide sleeve for stable support and easy removal, allowing for simultaneous implantation of multiple markers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a cylindrical gold marker without structure is used, then the implantation process is simple, but the gold marker is easy to lose or displace due to patient breathing and coughing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplantation simplicityVSAvoidmarker stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gold marker is divided into a marker body and a separate anchoring structure. The anchoring structure includes a fixed section embedded in the marker body and an extending section with a spiral groove that protrudes from the marker surface, allowing independent optimization of stability without complicating the marker body itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The anchoring structure features a spiral groove on its outer surface, which provides curvature and surface area increase to enhance adhesion force against tissue movement, preventing displacement while maintaining a relatively simple overall shape

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If a gold marker with groove structure is used, then the adhesion force increases, but the device becomes more complex and harder to remove

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarker adhesionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The anchoring structure is segmented into a fixed section embedded in the marker body and an extending section with the spiral groove. This separation allows the groove structure to provide adhesion while the fixed section maintains a simple embedding interface for easy removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spiral groove structure is extracted as a separate anchoring component rather than being integrated into the marker body. This allows the groove to provide enhanced adhesion force while the main marker body remains simple and easy to remove after treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If one-time use gold markers are used, then the implantation process is straightforward, but multiple implantations are required increasing cost and patient discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplantation straightforwardnessVSAvoidtotal treatment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The device transitions from a static one-time use marker to a dynamic removable marker. The anchoring structure can be engaged during implantation and then deliberately disengaged and removed after treatment, allowing multiple markers to be implanted in one procedure and removed collectively afterward

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The anchoring structure is designed to be temporarily retained in the body to secure multiple markers during treatment, then systematically removed and discarded after the treatment course is completed. This allows multiple markers to serve a single purpose rather than requiring multiple separate implantation procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Measurement precision

If multiple gold markers are implanted separately, then each marker can be positioned accurately, but the treatment time increases due to multiple procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidimplantation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple gold markers are merged into a single implantation procedure by using a multi-marker anchoring structure. The anchoring structure can accommodate and secure multiple markers simultaneously, allowing all markers to be implanted in one procedure rather than requiring multiple separate procedures while maintaining positioning accuracy through the structured anchoring mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11730514B2Removable dual gold marker implantation device with minor damage and using method thereof

Publication Date: 2023.08.22 FUJIAN MEDICAL UNIV UNION HOSPITAL

AI summary

A removable dual gold marker implantation device with minor damage comprises a gold marker and a puncture needle, the gold marker is arranged in the needle barrel of the puncture needle when in use; the gold marker comprises a gold marker head and a connecting wire connected with the gold marker head; the gold marker head comprises a first gold marker, a connecting part and a second gold marker connected in sequence. The disclosure reduces the damage to the body when removing the gold marker, and the dual gold marker structure makes the implantation of multiple gold markers at the same time possible and reduces the number of times of implantation and improves the efficiency.