Self-Cleaning Shunt Head with Vibrating Bristles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid shunts, such as those used for draining cerebrospinal fluid, often face issues with clogging due to tissue growth and infection, leading to high-risk surgeries and potential life-threatening bleeding during removal.
Innovation Solution
A self-cleaning shunt head with a vibrating cleaning element, featuring a central shaft with bristles that align with the shunt openings, which can be vibrated using a magnetic or ultrasound field to clear debris and prevent tissue growth, reducing the risk of blockages and infections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple shunt head with perforations is used, then the device complexity is low, but the inlet apertures get clogged by tissue growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating a cleaning element with bristles that can be activated before tissue growth completely blocks the openings. The cleaning element is positioned in advance within the shunt head, ready to be vibrated into the openings to prevent complete occlusion by tissue or debris.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent directly applies mechanical vibration by using a vibrating cleaning element with bristles that are actuated into the shunt openings. The vibration mechanism causes the bristles to oscillate and scrape the inner surfaces of the openings, dislodging tissue growth and debris to maintain patency.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the shunt head is left in place for long term use, then the duration of action is extended, but living tissue growth blocks the holes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies continuity of useful action by providing a long-term cleaning mechanism that can be repeatedly activated throughout the shunt's service life. The cleaning element can be vibrated periodically or continuously to maintain opening patency throughout the extended duration of shunt operation, preventing tissue growth from blocking the holes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by designing a cleaning element that can be activated by the patient or clinician through external magnetic or acoustic fields without requiring surgical intervention. The shunt essentially cleans itself through remote activation of the vibration mechanism, maintaining functionality over extended periods.
3Reliability
If manual back-flushing is used to clean the shunt head, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing the manual mechanical back-flushing system with a vibration-based cleaning mechanism. Instead of requiring manual compression of a reservoir to generate fluid pressure for back-flushing, the invention uses vibrational energy transmitted through the cleaning element's bristles to mechanically dislodge debris, simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses mechanical vibration as a simpler alternative to complex back-flushing mechanisms. The vibration element can be remotely actuated by magnetic or acoustic fields, eliminating the need for complex reservoir compression mechanisms while achieving effective cleaning through vibrational dislodgement of debris.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the shunt is removed due to infection or clogging, then the harmful factors are eliminated, but intraventricular bleeding may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by preventing tissue growth and debris accumulation before they can cause infection or complete blockage. The cleaning element continuously or periodically removes potential sources of infection and maintains opening patency, preventing the conditions that would necessitate shunt removal and the associated bleeding risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the shunt to clean itself and prevent infection and clogging without requiring removal. The cleaning element maintains opening patency and prevents tissue ingress, allowing the shunt to remain in place indefinitely without the harmful effects that would require surgical intervention.
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 self-cleaning mechanism effectively maintains the shunt openings clear, reducing the risk of tissue growth and infection, making shunt removal safer and potentially allowing for lifetime use without the need for frequent replacements.
Implementation Method 1
The vibration can be effected by any method which enables remote vibration to be effected. A particularly simple method is to incorporate a ferromagnetic or even a magnetic element within the cleaning element, and to cause these to vibrate by means of an externally applied field magnetic field.
Implementation Method 2
Another alternative is use of an appropriate ultrasound field applied externally, causing the bristles to vibrate.
Data Source
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AI summary
A self cleaning inlet head for use on a shunt. The head has a tube with openings disposed in predetermined positions in its wall, and a cleaning element installed inside the tube. The cleaning element may comprise a central shaft with a number of bristles protruding therefrom, preferably in locations substantially identical to the positions of the openings in the wall of the tube. Mutual vibratory motion between the cleaning element and the tube causes at least some of the bristles to enter the openings, thereby keeping them clear, and preventing tissue growth into them. The vibratory motion may be generated by the action of an external field on a responsive part of the cleaning element, such as an external magnetic field operating on a magnetic or magnetized part of the cleaning element or the bristles. Alternatively, the external field may be an ultrasound field operating on the bristles.