Implantable Skin Penetration Device with Folded Anchoring Tabs
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skin reduction devices for repeated or constant supply of medication and removal of body fluids require larger skin incisions and may experience unwanted shifts and mixing of fluids due to their design.
Innovation Solution
The device features a cylindrical base with a radially folded entry mechanism for subcutaneous anchoring, allowing for a smaller skin incision and secure fixation, along with an adapter piece for the catheter tube that combines with fixing taps to ensure stability and minimize fluid mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional subcutaneous port with piercing cup is used, then reliable access is achieved, but larger skin incision and dead volumes causing fluid mixing occur
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation tabs are designed to be movable, transitioning from a folded insertion position to an unfolded holding position. This dynamic structure allows the device to adapt its configuration during implantation and operation, reducing dead volume while maintaining secure anchoring and reliable access.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring mechanism is segmented into multiple independent fixation tabs that can be individually deployed. This segmentation allows for compact storage during implantation (reducing incision size) and effective deployment post-implantation (reducing dead volume), resolving the contradiction between access reliability and dead volume reduction.
2Strength
If fixation tabs are deployed radially outward for secure anchoring, then fixation strength is improved, but device size increases requiring larger skin incision
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation tabs utilize a dynamic folding mechanism that allows them to occupy a compact radial space during insertion (minimizing incision area) and expand to a larger radial space after implantation (maximizing fixation strength). This temporal separation of size requirements resolves the technical contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation tabs are nested within the base body in a folded configuration during implantation, similar to a nested doll structure. After implantation, they unfold and radiate outward, providing strong anchoring without requiring a large incision area, thus resolving the contradiction between fixation strength and incision size.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
An implantable skin penetration device for connecting an external tube to a catheter tube (4) that can be placed inside the human or animal body comprises a cylindrical base body (6) with an upper region (8) facing away from the body when implanted and a lower region (10) facing the body when implanted. The base body is equipped in its lower region with a subcutaneous anchor (12) for subcutaneous insertion, and upper connectors (16) for connecting the external tube and lower connectors (18) for connecting the catheter tube are provided. The subcutaneous anchor is formed by a plurality of fixing tabs (14) hinged to the base body, which can be pivoted from a radially folded insertion position (E) to a radially unfolded holding position (H).The lower connection means have an adapter piece (20) for the catheter tube that can be inserted into the base body and which interacts with the fixing tabs in such a way that in a lower stop position it fixes the fixing tabs in the holding position.