Steerable Needle Controllable Buckling for Sharp Turning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current steerable needles are limited in their ability to create complex curves and have a large turning radius, which restricts their versatility and accuracy in navigating through tissues with varying stiffness, especially in surgeries requiring precise needle placement and obstacle avoidance.
Innovation Solution
The development of steerable needles with a shaft capable of controllable buckling, featuring a steering head and a transmission system that allows for precise orientation control, enabling the needle to maintain stiffness for penetration while being flexible for curved paths, thereby achieving smaller turning radii and improved maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the needle maintains high stiffness for controlled penetration, then penetration control is improved, but the turning radius becomes too large and flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is divided into distinct functional segments: a stiff penetration portion for controlled tissue penetration, and a flexible steering portion for creating curves. This segmentation allows each segment to optimize its properties for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between stiffness and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle transitions from a static, uniformly stiff structure to a dynamic structure where the steering portion can be actively bent and reshaped during insertion. The ability to change the needle's configuration mid-procedure allows it to adapt to different anatomical paths while maintaining penetration control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the needle is made more flexible to achieve sharper curves, then turning radius is reduced, but penetration control and stability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the needle into a stable, stiff penetration segment and a flexible, adaptable steering segment, the design allows the steering portion to create sharp curves without compromising the stability of the penetration portion. The segmented structure isolates the flexibility needed for curving from the stability needed for controlled insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the needle have different mechanical properties: the penetration portion maintains high stiffness and stability, while the steering portion has reduced stiffness to enable sharp curves. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between overall stability and local flexibility.
3Ease of operation
If pre-curved needles are used to navigate around obstacles, then path planning is improved, but adaptability to varying tissue stiffness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The steerable needle allows dynamic adjustment of its path during insertion by actively bending the steering portion in response to real-time feedback from tissue resistance and imaging guidance. This dynamic adaptability replaces static pre-curved designs, enabling the needle to navigate around obstacles while adapting to varying tissue stiffness encountered along the path.
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
This design allows for precise control of the needle's path with minimal tissue distortion, enabling the creation of complex curves and arbitrary shapes, enhancing the needle's ability to navigate through tissues with varying stiffness and improve surgical precision.
Implementation Method 1
a shaft comprising a beam capable of being controllably buckled
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are steerable needles having a shaft that can be controllably buckled, a steering head positioned at a distal end of the shaft, a transmission for controlling the orientation of the steering head, and a base at the end of the shaft, the base optionally comprising a controller for controlling the transmission. Also disclosed are methods of using the disclosed steerable needles.