Steerable Sheath Tube with Predetermined Angle Markings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Steerable sheath tubes used in minimally invasive surgeries face challenges in accurately adjusting the angle of their distal ends to specific anatomical structures, leading to prolonged operation times and increased surgical risks due to the need for manual fine-tuning and constant monitoring of the angle.
Innovation Solution
A steerable sheath tube design featuring a tubular body with a traction wire, handle, and a slider mechanism that includes a positioning member, allowing the distal end to be quickly and accurately bent to a predetermined angle through controlled movement of the slider, ensuring precise alignment with anatomical structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a steerable sheath tube with a large range of bending angles is used, then the adaptability to different anatomical structures is improved, but the time required to adjust to a specific predetermined angle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-setting specific angle markings (e.g., 45°, 90°, 135°) on the handle of the steerable sheath tube. These predetermined angle markings allow the operator to quickly identify and achieve the required bending angle without time-consuming manual adjustment or constant monitoring of a scale, thus reducing adjustment time while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through visual angle markings on the handle that provide real-time information to the operator about the current bending angle of the distal end. This feedback mechanism enables the operator to quickly determine when the predetermined angle is achieved, eliminating the need for constant monitoring and reducing adjustment time.
2Measurement precision
If manual fine adjustment of the distal end angle is performed, then the positioning precision is improved, but the operation duration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-marking specific angle positions (e.g., 45°, 90°, 135°) on the handle. These predetermined markings eliminate the need for time-consuming manual fine adjustment, as the operator can directly identify and achieve the required angle by referencing the markings, thus maintaining precision while reducing operation duration.
3Measurement precision
If the operator constantly monitors the angle scale during operation, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the surgical risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through clearly visible angle markings on the handle that provide immediate visual information about the distal end's bending angle. This feedback mechanism allows the operator to accurately determine the angle without constant monitoring, reducing surgical risk while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by designing the handle with self-indicating angle markings that automatically show the current bending angle without requiring active monitoring or additional instruments. The markings serve themselves to provide continuous angle information, eliminating the need for operator attention and reducing surgical risk.
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 enables rapid and precise adjustment of the distal end's angle, reducing operation duration and minimizing surgical risks by facilitating accurate positioning and release of occluders, such as for atrial septal defects.
Implementation Method 1
One end of the traction wire is fixed on the slider while the other end thereof is fixed at the distal end of the tubular body, and when the slider is moved to come into contact with the positioning member, the distal end of the tubular body is bent to a predetermined angle
Data Source
AI summary
A steerable sheath tube has a tubular body having a distal end, a traction wire; and a handle connected to the tubular body. The handle has a lateral branch tube that is coupled to the tubular body at an angle thereof, a slider positioned inside the lateral branch tube for translating movement therein, and a positioning member provided within the lateral branch tube and positioned further from the tubular body than from the slider. One end of the traction wire is fixed on the slider while the other end thereof is fixed at the distal end of the tubular body, and when the slider is moved to come into contact with the positioning member, the distal end of the tubular body is bent to a predetermined angle. A method for occluding an atrial septal defect includes the steps of delivering an occluder from a right internal jugular vein to an atrial septal defect by using the steerable sheath tube, and releasing the occluder to occlude the atrial septal defect.