Rotary Guide Device for Flexible Instrument Buckling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elongate flexible instruments, such as catheters, often experience buckling during insertion due to resistance from the environment, leading to inefficient and potentially damaging insertion processes.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a guide device with a rotary mechanism and motor, coupled with sensors and a processor that receives and evaluates sensor data to control the rotation of the rotary mechanism, mitigating buckling by adjusting the insertion force and rate to maintain alignment with the insertion axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If insertion force is applied to drive the instrument into the target environment, then insertion progress is achieved, but buckling occurs in the unsupported length of the instrument
Solution Approach 1:
A guide device with a rotary mechanism is introduced as an intermediary component between the drive mechanism and the instrument. The rotary mechanism rotates to advance the instrument in a controlled manner, mediating the force transmission and preventing direct axial loading that causes buckling. This intermediary mechanism allows insertion progress while maintaining instrument stability through rotational motion control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static force application to dynamic rotational actuation. The rotary mechanism converts rotational motion into linear advancement, creating a dynamic insertion process. This dynamic approach allows real-time adjustment of insertion rate and force distribution, preventing buckling by continuously adapting the actuation method rather than applying constant axial force.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual insertion control is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but insertion precision and buckling control are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors are integrated into the guide device to detect instrument position, orientation, and buckling conditions in real-time. This feedback information is processed by a control system that adjusts the rotary mechanism's rotation rate and direction accordingly. The feedback loop enables precise insertion control by continuously monitoring and responding to the instrument's state, achieving high precision without requiring overly complex mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical manual insertion control with a hybrid system that incorporates sensors and automated control algorithms. Instead of relying on operator skill and manual dexterity, the system uses electronic sensing and computational control to achieve precise insertion. This substitution reduces the need for complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms while improving precision and buckling control.
Data Source
AI summary
Illustrative systems and methods for inserting an elongate flexible instrument into a target environment are described. An illustrative system includes a guide device positioned near an opening to the target environment and having a rotary mechanism and a motor configured to drive the rotary mechanism. The system further includes a sensor system associated with insertion of the elongate flexible instrument along an insertion axis and a processor communicatively coupled to the motor and the sensor system. The processor is configured to receive sensor data from the sensor system, evaluate the sensor data, and control, based on the evaluation, the motor to actuate the elongate flexible instrument along the insertion axis. In some examples, the processor controls the motor to vary a rate of rotation of the rotary mechanism based on a determined system status.