Spring-Loaded Stylet Needle for Pneumothorax Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices for treating pneumothorax, tension pneumothorax, and pneumohemothorax face challenges such as difficulty in inserting the needle without lung laceration, potential obstruction of the airway, and non-sterile air entry into the pleural cavity due to kinking or twisting of the cannula, and lack of universal applicability for both on-site and hospital treatments.
Innovation Solution
A hollow needle with a spring-biased, retractable stylet and a housing featuring a one-way valve and gripping surface, which ensures safe insertion, prevents air and fluid re-entry, and provides visual confirmation of the stylet's position, along with a design that allows connection to a vacuum source for efficient drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pressure is applied to insert the needle through the chest wall, then insertion is achieved, but lung laceration may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The stylet is pre-loaded into the needle barrel before insertion, creating a protective configuration that prevents lung laceration during the high-pressure insertion phase. The stylet acts as a preliminary protective action that is in place before the harmful event could occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The stylet serves as an intermediary protective element between the needle tip and the lung tissue during insertion. It mediates the interaction by absorbing the impact and preventing direct needle-lung contact during the critical insertion phase.
2Ease of operation
If the cannula is removed after insertion, then the needle can be withdrawn, but the cannula may kink or twist restricting passage
Solution Approach 1:
The housing with integrated one-way valve is pre-attached to the needle before insertion, establishing a protective structure that prevents cannula kinking and twisting. This preliminary configuration ensures the airway remains open and functional after needle removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure acts as an intermediary support that maintains cannula alignment and prevents kinking. It mediates between the flexible cannula and external forces, ensuring the passage remains open for reliable airway function.
3Productivity
If the cannula is left open for drainage, then air and fluid can be removed, but non-sterile air may enter the pleural cavity
Solution Approach 1:
The one-way valve extracts and isolates the harmful function of bidirectional air passage, allowing only the desired unidirectional flow (outward drainage) while blocking the harmful reverse flow (inward contamination). The valve separates the useful drainage function from the harmful air entry function.
Solution Approach 2:
The one-way valve converts the potential harm of open cannula air entry into a benefit by selectively permitting outward flow while blocking inward flow. The atmospheric pressure that could force contaminants in is converted into a force that keeps the valve closed, protecting the pleural cavity.
4Reliability
If a complex valve structure is used to prevent air entry, then contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The one-way valve is implemented with simple local geometry at the outlet opening, using localized structural features rather than a complex overall design. The valve structure is simple and elegant, avoiding unnecessary complexity while maintaining reliable contamination prevention.
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 device facilitates safe and effective insertion, prevents lung damage, ensures unidirectional airflow, and is adaptable for both on-site and hospital use, providing a reliable solution for pneumothorax treatment while being simple to manufacture and use.
Implementation Method 1
The stylet is spring-biased to extend out of the needle end as a safety tip
Implementation Method 2
The housing includes a one-way valve which is configured without a secondary structure to restrict the passage of air and bodily fluids to only one direction, out of the pleural cavity
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides for an improved medical device used to remove gas and liquid from the plural cavity between the lung and the chest wall in both stationary and mobile applications. The present invention generally comprises a hollow needle with a hollow closed end stylet slidably received in the needle. The stylet is spring-biased to extend out of the needle end as a safety tip but when pressured is moved to a retracted position to allow for insertion through the chest wall. The pressure needed to insert the needle/stylet combination through the chest wall is applied by a housing at the end of the needle which is contoured for easy grip. While not being applied to the chest wall, the stylet comprises a safety tip, which makes the device safe to handle and apply in stationary or mobile applications. Further, the housing includes a one-way valve is configured permit only the passage of air and bodily fluid out of the pleural cavity without a secondary structure needed. The present invention is useful in safely and effectively treating a variety of related conditions including pneumothorax (collapsed lung), tension pneumothorax (collapsed lung pressing on the heart), and pneumohemothorax (collapsed lung with air and bodily fluids in the pleural cavity).