Self-Switching Balloon Filling Assembly for Leak-Free Catheter Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The rotator cuff balloon used in shoulder joint surgeries is difficult to separate from the catheter and often leaks during filling, leading to inefficiencies and complications.
Innovation Solution
A self-on-off transmission assembly with a communication tube, outer tube, and sealing tube, featuring a connecting-driving mechanism that allows for seamless switching between open and sealed states, utilizing various sealing structures and coupling mechanisms to ensure secure attachment and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rotator cuff balloon is connected to the catheter for filling, then the balloon can be filled with physiological saline, but the balloon is difficult to separate from the catheter and fluid leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the catheter and balloon transitions from a static permanent connection to a dynamic controllable connection. The outer tube can be pulled to disconnect from the inner tube, and the sealing tube can be moved axially to switch between sealing and non-sealing states, allowing the system to adapt between connected and separated states as needed
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter connection system is divided into separate functional components: the inner tube for fluid delivery, the outer tube for protection and control, and the sealing tube for sealing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while maintaining overall system reliability and ease of separation
2Device complexity
If a simple connection between catheter and balloon is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but sealing performance deteriorates and leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter connection structure uses a nested design where the sealing tube is placed inside the communication tube, and the outer tube contains the inner tube. This nested arrangement achieves reliable sealing through multiple concentric tubes with sealing structures at their interfaces, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be easily manufactured and sterilized
3Productivity
If the balloon is filled and then separated from the catheter, then the balloon can be implanted, but fluid leakage occurs during separation
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing tube is pre-positioned within the communication tube with its sealing end ready to block the through hole. Before separation occurs, the sealing tube can be moved axially to ensure the communicating area is blocked, preventing fluid leakage during the separation process and ensuring the balloon remains sealed during implantation
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are a self-switching transmission assembly, a balloon, and a prosthesis for use in a shoulder joint. The self-switching transmission assembly comprises: a communicating tube (11, 11', 11") comprising an input end (111, 111', 111") and an output end (112, 112', 112"); an external connection tube (12, 12', 12"), an end portion thereof being insertable into the communicating tube (11, 11', 11") from the input end (111, 111', 111") and removable from the communicating tube (11, 11', 11") from the input end (111, 111', 111"); and a sealing tube (13, 13', 13"), which can be placed in a tube body of the communicating tube (11, 11', 11") and moved axially relative to the tube body of the communicating tube (11, 11', 11"). The sealing tube (13, 13', 13") comprises a connection end (131, 131', 131") and a sealing end (132, 132', 132"), the connection end (131, 131', 131") being detachably connected to the end portion of the external connection tube (12, 12', 12") by means of a connection driving mechanism, and the sealing end (132, 132', 132") being provided with a pass-through region, wherein, when the pass-through region is exposed outside of the output end (112, 112', 112"), the self-switching transmission assembly is in a pass-through state, and when the pass-through region is placed inside the tube body of the communicating tube (11, 11', 11"), the self-switching transmission assembly is in a sealed and blocked state.