Shape Memory Implant Delivery Catheter Friction Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implant insertion devices for shape memory implants are cumbersome, prone to damage, and inefficient in releasing stored mechanical energy, often causing frictional issues and entanglement during surgery, and require expensive sterilization and cleaning.
Innovation Solution
An implant insertion system with a slider mechanism that maintains shape memory implants in their second shape until delivery, using jaws to securely engage and release the implant, allowing controlled transition from the second shape to the first shape, reducing friction and entanglement risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal forceps are used to hold and insert the shape memory implant, then the implant can be securely grasped, but the forceps are large which hinders implantation and require expensive sterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the implant holding function from the insertion device by using a separate, small delivery catheter that can pass through the puncture needle, eliminating the need for large forceps during implantation
Solution Approach 2:
The implant is nested within the delivery catheter, which itself is nested within the puncture needle, creating a compact nested structure that facilitates easy implantation while maintaining secure implant holding
2Ease of manufacture
If plastic disposable tools are used to maintain the implant in second shape, then sterilization is simplified, but the implant sticks to the device due to frictional engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery catheter uses a flexible thin-walled structure that minimizes frictional engagement with the implant, allowing smooth passage and easy disengagement while maintaining the implant in the desired shape
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable plastic delivery catheters that are pre-sterilized, eliminating the need for complex sterilization processes while maintaining ease of disengagement through proper material selection and design
3Loss of time
If the implant insertion device substantially conforms to the profile of the shape memory implant, then the implant can be preloaded prior to surgery, but this creates frictional engagement and entanglement during release
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery catheter employs a flexible thin-walled design that reduces frictional engagement, enabling smooth implant passage and release without entanglement while maintaining preloading capability
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery catheter is designed with dynamic flexibility that allows it to adapt to the implant shape during loading while maintaining low friction during release, preventing entanglement
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
Facilitates efficient and controlled delivery of shape memory implants, reducing the risk of damage and improving surgical efficiency by ensuring a smooth transition of mechanical energy, thus enhancing tissue or bone fixation and healing.
Implementation Method 1
A shape memory implant that requires mechanical constraint stores mechanical energy due to elastic (recoverable) deformation, and then releases the stored mechanical energy when the constraint is removed
Implementation Method 2
Shape memory implants can be composed of shape memory material such as Nitinol that allows the shape memory implants to have a first final shape and the ability to transform into a second shape
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
An implant insertion device is adapted for use with a shape memory implant. The shape memory implant includes a bridge interconnecting first and second legs. The shape memory implant is movable between a first shape in which the first and second legs are substantially non-parallel and a second shape in which the first and second legs are substantially parallel. The implant insertion device engages the shape memory implant to maintain the shape memory implant in its second shape until the delivery of the shape memory implant into tissue or bone.