Spring-Loaded Needle Tip Detection Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for locating the epidural space and peritoneal cavity, such as using the 'loss of resistance' technique with Touhy and Veress needles, are unreliable and require significant experience, often leading to puncturing of the dura and multiple attempts, which can cause chronic back pain and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A detection apparatus with a biasing unit that maintains a constant force to deliver fluid through a tubular element, allowing for reliable identification of the epidural space and peritoneal cavity by differentiating resistance levels, using a delivery unit connected to the needle and a plunger with a spring element to ensure fluid delivery when the resistance is less than the biasing force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the loss of resistance technique is used with manual syringe actuation, then the user can detect the epidural space, but the technique requires considerable experience and concentrates attention on both syringe actuation and needle insertion separately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the syringe actuation and needle insertion operations into a single integrated action. The spring-loaded plunger automatically provides fluid pressure during needle advancement, eliminating the need for separate manual syringe actuation. This merging of operations simplifies the procedure and reduces the experience required while maintaining reliable epidural space identification through resistance detection.
2Reliability
If the loss of resistance technique is used, then the epidural space can be located, but there is a risk of advancing the needle through the epidural space and into the dura
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates continuous resistance feedback during needle insertion. The spring-loaded mechanism provides consistent fluid pressure that allows the operator to feel resistance changes in real-time. When the needle enters the epidural space, the resistance pattern changes distinctly, providing immediate feedback that stops further advancement before dural puncture can occur. This feedback mechanism significantly reduces the risk of accidental dural puncture.
3Reliability
If the Veress needle is used for peritoneal cavity identification, then the cavity can be identified, but the sharpness of the needle does not readily allow differentiation between layers of high and low resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-loads the spring mechanism with stored energy before needle insertion. This preliminary action ensures that fluid pressure is immediately available as the needle advances through tissue layers. The consistent pressure profile allows the operator to distinguish between high-resistance and low-resistance layers more easily, as the spring maintains steady force throughout the insertion process, making resistance differentiation possible even with a sharp Veress needle.
4Reliability
If multiple attempts are made to identify the peritoneal cavity, then the cavity can eventually be identified, but it requires very many attempts, often more than ten
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded fluid delivery system provides immediate and consistent resistance feedback during each insertion attempt. This feedback allows the operator to quickly determine whether the peritoneal cavity has been reached by detecting the characteristic pressure change when the needle enters the cavity. The reliable and immediate feedback reduces uncertainty, enabling successful identification in fewer attempts and significantly improving productivity.
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
Significantly improves the speed and reliability of positioning the needle tip in the desired region, reducing the risk of dural puncture and increasing successful identification of epidural and peritoneal spaces with fewer attempts.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element operative to maintain a biasing force to the fluid contained in the delivery unit, such as to cause the delivery unit to deliver fluid from the tubular element when the biasing force is greater than a resistance to flow of the fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A detection apparatus for, and a method of, detecting the location of the tip of a tubular element, in particular a needle, within a region, in particular one of the epidural space and the peritoneal cavity.