Reversible Cavitary Tension Membrane for Uniform Pressure and Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical and industrial devices fail to apply uniform pressure to cavities while allowing unobstructed flow of fluids or solids, as they either completely block flow or provide only partial transit, limiting their effectiveness in applications like interventional cardiology, pipeline repair, and construction.
Innovation Solution
A punch-ball apparatus with a thin, high-tensile strength membrane that expands to uniformly touch cavity walls, allowing fluid or solid transfer through central orifices, and can adapt to irregular shapes using tension mechanisms like fluid-filled vacuolated spaces, electro-magnetic coils, or electro-active polymers, ensuring minimal deformation and unobstructed flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a stent or balloon is deployed to apply pressure on cavity walls, then uniform pressure is achieved, but flow through the cavity is completely blocked or only partially allowed
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is made porous by creating punches (holes) through it, allowing fluids and solids to pass freely through the cavity while the membrane remains in contact with the cavity walls to apply uniform pressure. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both pressure application and flow maintenance simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
A thin membrane is used instead of a rigid structure, allowing the membrane to conform to the cavity walls and apply uniform pressure while being flexible enough to allow flow through punches. The thin film structure enables contact with irregular cavity surfaces without blocking flow paths.
2Strength
If a thick membrane is used to provide structural support and pressure, then strength is improved, but deformation and flow obstruction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin membrane (thickness less than 1/5 of the average diameter of the empty space) that is sufficiently thin to allow free flow through punches and minimal deformation, yet sufficiently strong to apply uniform pressure on cavity walls. The high tensile strength material compensates for the reduced thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is made of high-tensile-strength material that combines strength with thinness, allowing the membrane to be both strong and thin simultaneously. This composite property enables the membrane to maintain structural integrity while being thin enough to allow free flow through punches.
3Stress or pressure
If a rigid structure is used to maintain shape and apply pressure, then pressure uniformity is improved, but adaptability to irregular cavity shapes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The thin membrane is flexible enough to conform to irregular cavity shapes while maintaining contact with the cavity walls to apply uniform pressure. The membrane can adapt to various geometries without requiring a rigid structure, resolving the contradiction between pressure uniformity and shape adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can adapt its shape to match the cavity geometry. This dynamic flexibility allows the membrane to conform to irregular shapes while maintaining uniform pressure distribution through its tension.
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 punch-ball system enables uniform pressure application on cavity walls without obstructing fluid or solid flow, facilitating procedures like electrophysiology and aortic dissection treatment, while allowing for the delivery of drugs or patches and simultaneous measurements, and providing temporary support in construction.
Implementation Method 1
A first method to activate a tension force in a punch-ball system would be to embed in a thin layer made of plastic material or any other material that can be subjected to processing into thin sheets, electro-magnetic coils of various thicknesses
Implementation Method 2
A first method to activate a tension force in a punch-ball system would be to embed in a thin layer made of plastic material or any other material that can be subjected to processing into thin sheets, electro-magnetic coils of various thicknesses
Implementation Method 3
incorporating into the particular membranes a multitude of threads that self-expand spontaneously and then retract upon manual or automatic retraction
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention's goal is to devise an apparatus (here-forth called ‘punch-ball’) made of a tension-reversible membrane that will assume a particular three-dimensional predetermined shape when under tension, apparatus that will border a central empty space, central space limited by the interior face of the membrane, and central space that will be in direct communication with the exterior space outside of the external face of the ‘punch-ball’ through orifices in the membrane (here-forth called ‘punches’), punches that will not decrease the ability of the membrane to exhibit a tension force. The punch-ball can be used freestanding or in connection with an object representing a confined space that will be abutting the exterior face of the punch-ball when the punch-ball is under tension. The punches will allow fluid to flow freely or solids to be transferred freely between the interior and exterior of the punch-ball membrane without any limitations to the initial flow through the cavity prior to the punch-ball membrane being deployed in the cavity, the interior face of the membrane being defined as surrounding the empty space inside the punch-ball while the exterior face of the membrane as facing the exterior of the punch-ball. The membrane will be provided with hinge borders (borders that will lack completely or partially the property of being under tension, and at same time have various degrees of elasticity or deformability), borders that will allow the punch ball shape to adapt to the shape of the cavity in which it will be deployed, or for the action to be undertaken. At the end of the action performed the tension in the membrane will cease, the punch-ball will be un-deployed and then removed from the location of action.