Medical Hollow Needle With Spoon-Like Tip For Cataract Surgery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current phacoemulsification procedures for cataract treatment involve the use of two instruments, increasing patient stress and procedural duration due to the need for additional fragmentation support during hard lens core removal.
Innovation Solution
A medical hollow needle with a spoon-like tip that protrudes beyond the suction aperture, enhancing suction power and allowing for optimized fragmentation based on lens hardness, potentially featuring additional suction apertures and connection means for ultrasound or laser devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a second medical instrument is introduced to support fragmentation of hard lens cores, then fragmentation effectiveness is improved, but patient stress and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fragmentation function (previously requiring a separate second instrument) with the suction needle by integrating a spoon-like projection directly onto the needle tip. This merging allows the single needle to both fragment the lens core through oscillation and support the fragmented pieces through the spoon structure, eliminating the need for a second instrument while maintaining fragmentation effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The suction needle is transformed into a multi-functional instrument that simultaneously performs fragmentation (through ultrasonic oscillation of the needle tip) and support/containment (through the spoon-like projection). This universal design allows one instrument to fulfill multiple roles that previously required separate devices, reducing overall system complexity
2Productivity
If suction power is increased to reduce surgical duration, then productivity is improved, but risk of damaging eye parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spoon-like projection protruding beyond the suction aperture acts as a protective cushion or buffer between the high-power suction force and the delicate eye structures. This pre-positioned protective element prevents direct contact between the strong suction flow and sensitive ocular tissues, allowing enhanced suction power to be applied safely without causing damage
3Loss of time
If surgical duration is reduced to lower patient stress, then productivity is improved, but suction efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the fragmentation capability with the suction function in a single integrated needle design, the system achieves more efficient lens material removal. The spoon-like projection that supports fragmented pieces directly at the tip enables continuous, high-speed suction without interruption for instrument changes or repositioning, thereby reducing surgical duration while maintaining or improving suction efficiency
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 design reduces patient stress and surgical duration by improving suction efficiency and fragmentation effectiveness, allowing for safer and more efficient cataract removal.
Implementation Method 1
the hollow needle is vibrated by an ultrasonic generator. Thereby, the eye lens is decomposed into small fragments
Implementation Method 2
which can then be sucked off through the medical hollow needle
Data Source
AI summary
A medical hollow needle for use with at least a suction device includes at least one suction tube or suction line with a lumen and having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is formed as a suction aperture, and a needle tip formed at said distal end of the suction tube or suction line, wherein said needle tip is formed spoon-like and protrudes beyond an edge of said suction aperture or said distal end of said suction tube or suction line.