Handheld Sterile Fluid Delivery Device Wireless Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid delivery devices for medical procedures like discography are not lightweight, hand-held, or capable of transmitting data from the sterile field, and they fail to accurately monitor both pressure and volume of fluid delivered, leading to potential false pain indications during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, hand-held fluid delivery device with a manually actuated pump, integrated pressure and volume sensors, and a controller that displays these parameters, along with a wireless data transfer module for external processing, and a physiological sensor to detect involuntary pain responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fluid delivery device is made lightweight and hand-held for use in sterile field, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to integration of multiple sensors and wireless transmission components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components (pressure sensor, volume sensor, wireless transmitter, display) into a single integrated hand-held device that can be sterilized and used within the sterile field. This merging of functions into one portable unit improves ease of operation while managing complexity through unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs multiple functions simultaneously: monitoring pressure, measuring volume, wirelessly transmitting data, and displaying real-time parameters. This multi-functionality in a single hand-held unit addresses the contradiction by consolidating diverse capabilities into one operable device.
2Loss of information
If data is transmitted wirelessly from inside sterile field to outside sterile field, then loss of information is reduced, but device complexity increases due to wireless transmission requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless transmitter acts as an intermediary that bridges the sterile and non-sterile environments. It enables data to be transmitted from the sterile field where the device operates to the non-sterile field where external monitors or computers are located, reducing information loss while isolating the complex transmission functionality to a specific component.
3Measurement precision
If both pressure and volume monitoring are implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sensors and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor and volume sensor are integrated into the same device housing, with their data processed by a unified controller. This merging of measurement functions allows simultaneous monitoring of both parameters with improved precision while managing complexity through integrated design rather than separate systems.
4Weight of moving object
If a manually actuated pump is used instead of motor-driven, then weight is reduced, but productivity decreases due to manual operation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The manually actuated pump operates through periodic manual cycles, where the operator repeatedly actuates the pump mechanism to deliver fluid in controlled increments. This periodic manual operation reduces device weight compared to motor-driven systems while maintaining adequate productivity through rhythmic actuation during the procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid delivery device is provided for delivering fluid to a target site such as an intervertebral disc during discography. The fluid delivery device includes pressure and volume sensors to determine the pressure and the volume of the fluid delivered to the intervertebral disc. The fluid delivery device is hand-held during use and includes a syringe assembly having a plunger with threads that enables controlled discharge of the fluid from the fluid delivery device by rotating the plunger in a housing of the fluid delivery device. The fluid delivery device includes a communication module to wirelessly transfer data to an external device outside of a sterile field, while the fluid delivery device is in the sterile field. The fluid delivery device may also include a physiological sensor to monitor involuntary pain responses based on changing physiological parameters such as increases in body temperature or blood pressure.