Stereotactic Guide Tube Alignment for Repeatable Brain Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug injection devices face challenges in accurately and repeatedly targeting specific points in the brain parenchyma due to limitations in accessing the target region through a bur hole, potential side effects from misplacement, and complexity in mounting and handling, especially when requiring direction changes.
Innovation Solution
A stereotactic guidance device with a guide handle, probe accommodating part, tube connecting part, and guide wire that allows for precise alignment and direction adjustment of a guide tube, enabling easy handling and repeated targeting without damaging brain tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a frameless stereotaxy is used to provide surgical guidance, then surgical guidance capability is improved, but device complexity and mounting time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional modules: a stereotactic frame mounted on the skull, a separate guidance device with display unit, and detachable positioning components. This segmentation allows the complex guidance functionality to be provided without requiring a completely integrated complex system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
A display unit is introduced as an intermediary component that receives signals from the navigation device and presents surgical guidance information to the operator. This mediator separates the complex navigation processing from the user interface, simplifying both the operational complexity and the structural integration requirements.
2Ease of manufacture
If the bur hole diameter is limited, then skull penetration is simplified, but the size and position of accessible target regions in the brain parenchyma are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance device incorporates adjustable and rotatable components that allow dynamic repositioning of the guide tube and injection needle after initial bur hole creation. This dynamic capability enables access to multiple target regions through a single bur hole, expanding versatility without requiring larger or multiple bur holes.
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables three-dimensional positioning and angulation of the guide tube relative to the bur hole axis. By introducing angular and depth dimensions, the system can reach targets at various locations within the brain parenchyma through a single limited-diameter bur hole, overcoming the geometric constraints of the initial opening.
3Ease of operation
If the drug injection device is mounted at a slightly different point, then implantation flexibility is improved, but side effects such as post-operative inflammation occur and surgery costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a navigation device with display unit that provides real-time feedback on the position and orientation of the guide tube and injection needle. This feedback mechanism allows precise verification of target positioning before drug injection, ensuring accurate placement and preventing the side effects associated with misplaced injections while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The stereotactic frame and guidance device enable preliminary planning and precise positioning of the injection trajectory before actual drug administration. By pre-establishing the exact target location and approach path, the system ensures accurate subsequent injections at the same target point, avoiding the side effects of misplaced injections while allowing flexible implantation timing.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If repeated administration is required, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but accurate re-targeting becomes difficult and surgical costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stereotactic frame remains mounted on the patient's skull throughout the treatment period, providing a persistent reference framework that enables multiple injection sessions. The frame's coordinate system and the associated navigation device work together as a self-sustaining system that automatically facilitates accurate re-targeting without requiring re-calibration or additional complex setup for each subsequent administration.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a stereotactic guidance device comprising a guide handle coupled inside the driving part, and configured to accommodate a guide tube unit, adjusting the guide tube unit to be positioned toward a target point, and guiding the guide tube unit so that the guide tube unit is provided inside the driving part; a probe accommodating part provided at the guide handle and accommodating a navigation probe; a tube connecting part connected to the guide handle, provided as at least a pair of members to be assembled and disassembled, having one end portion inserted into the guide handle and the other end portion mounted at an upper portion of the guide handle, and guiding the guide tube unit so that the guide tube unit is inserted into and mounted in the driving part; and a guide wire provided in the guide handle and the guide tube unit.