S-Shaped Tracheostomy Tube Introducer Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing introducers for inserting medical tubes, such as tracheostomy tubes, face challenges in providing sufficient support to navigate through stiff anatomical structures while being easily insertable, especially in procedures like tracheostomy, where airflow must be minimized until the tube is fully inserted.
Innovation Solution
A tube introducer with an S-shaped design, featuring a curved patient end and a smoothly continuous but oppositely curved machine end, along with a side opening, provides ergonomic advantages and centralization within the tube, allowing for controlled high insertion forces and easy removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a stiff introducer is used to provide sufficient support for navigating through stiff anatomical structures, then the tube can be pushed through the opening, but the introducer becomes more difficult to insert and requires higher insertion forces
Solution Approach 1:
The introducer is designed with an S-shaped curved configuration instead of a straight rigid form. This curvature allows the introducer to navigate anatomical structures more easily while maintaining sufficient structural support. The curve radius and S-shape geometry enable the device to flex and adapt to the passage path, reducing insertion difficulty while preserving the strength needed to push the tube through stiff cartilages.
2Ease of manufacture
If a straight introducer is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it creates higher friction and requires more force to insert through curved anatomical passages
Solution Approach 1:
The introducer incorporates an S-shaped curve that matches the natural curvature of anatomical passages. This curved design reduces friction between the introducer and the passage walls during insertion, allowing the device to glide more smoothly through the body opening and into the trachea, thereby reducing the insertion force required.
3Strength
If high insertion forces are applied to push the tube through stiff cartilages, then the tube can be inserted, but it causes trauma to patient tissue and disrupts air flow
Solution Approach 1:
The S-shaped curved design of the introducer distributes the insertion force more evenly along the passage, reducing peak forces that would cause tissue trauma. The curve allows the introducer to follow the natural path of insertion, minimizing abrupt movements and tissue disruption, thereby maintaining air flow during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The introducer's curved geometry changes the mechanical parameters of insertion, transforming the force application from a direct linear push to a distributed curved insertion. This parameter change reduces the peak forces required and minimizes tissue trauma while maintaining effective tube placement.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A tracheostomy tube introducer (1) has a patient end region (10) on which the tube (2) is mounted and that is curved in one sense. The introducer has a machine end region (11) projecting from the rear end of the tube (2) to provide a handle that curves in the opposite sense to the patient end region (10) so that the introducer has an S shape along its length. A bore (24) for a guide member extends from the patient end tip (14) of the introducer and opens in the machine end region (11) through a side opening (25). The introducer 1 is provided in a kit (200) with the tracheostomy tube (2) and a dilator (202) having the same general S shape as the introducer.