Retractable Sheath TAP Block Injection Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection needles used in laparoscopic procedures for TAP block anesthetization lack the necessary precision and safety, often resulting in unintended puncture of organs or tissues due to limited visibility and maneuverability, increasing the risk of complications during abdominal surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A TAP block injection device featuring a retractable sheath mechanism that covers the needle during insertion and maneuvering, allowing controlled exposure of the needle tip for precise anesthetic administration, with a thumb-operated slider and magnetic positioning feature for tactile feedback and precise needle placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard injection needle is used in laparoscopic procedures, then the procedure can be performed with simple equipment, but the needle may inadvertently puncture organs or tissue due to limited visibility and maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is nested inside a protective sheath that covers it during insertion and maneuvering. The sheath acts as an outer container that protects the inner needle from causing unintended punctures, while still allowing the needle to be deployed when needed. This nested structure resolves the contradiction by providing safety through the sheath while maintaining the functional simplicity of the needle.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a static covered state to a dynamic exposed state through a slider mechanism. The needle can be selectively exposed by moving the slider, allowing the operator to control when the needle is active. This dynamic capability provides safety during maneuvering while enabling injection when positioned correctly, without requiring a completely complex device structure.
2Productivity
If the needle is exposed during insertion and maneuvering, then injection can be performed quickly, but the risk of puncturing organs or tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is pre-positioned inside the sheath before insertion into the patient's body. The sheath is already in place during the insertion and maneuvering phases, providing protective coverage. This preliminary protective action allows for quick deployment of the needle when needed while maintaining safety during the critical insertion phase, resolving the contradiction between speed and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheath acts as an intermediary protective element between the needle and the patient's organs or tissue. During insertion and maneuvering, the sheath mediates the interaction by providing a protective barrier that prevents direct contact between the needle and sensitive structures. This intermediary allows the procedure to proceed efficiently while mitigating the harmful risk of unintended punctures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the needle is covered during the procedure, then organ puncture risk is reduced, but precise needle placement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device allows dynamic transition between covered and exposed states. The needle remains covered during insertion and maneuvering to minimize organ puncture risk, then can be selectively exposed by operating the slider when precise placement is needed. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction by providing protection when covered and precision when exposed, allowing the operator to optimize for each phase of the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider mechanism provides tactile feedback to the operator, allowing precise control of the needle exposure. The operator can feel the position and movement of the slider, enabling accurate control of when and how much the needle is exposed. This feedback mechanism allows for precise needle placement while maintaining the protective covering during maneuvering, resolving the contradiction between safety and precision.
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 device ensures safe and precise needle placement, reducing the risk of organ puncture and providing effective anesthetic delivery with tactile feedback, enabling controlled penetration and injection, thereby enhancing surgical safety and reducing opioid reliance.
Implementation Method 1
thumb-operated slider and magnetic positioning feature for tactile feedback and precise needle placement
Data Source
AI summary
A device for performing a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block anesthetic injection during a laparoscopic surgical procedure. The device includes a handle, a needle fixed to the handle, and a sheath covering the needle. The sheath is slidably retractable via a thumb-operated slider on the handle. In a first position for device insertion, the sheath fully covers the tip of the needle, preventing the needle from puncturing any organ or tissue in the patient. In a second position, the sheath is retracted using the slider to expose the needle tip, enabling insertion of the needle tip into the appropriate tissue and injection of the anesthetic. The needle and sheath have a length suitable for reaching the desired abdominal location from outside the body through the laparoscopic port. A threaded luer and tube, fluidly coupled to the needle, are used to push the anesthetic through the needle and into the tissue.