Syringe-Based Pneumatic Force Sensor for Ureteral Sheath Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ureteral access sheath (UAS) insertion methods lack accessible and affordable force monitoring devices, leading to a high incidence of ureteral injuries during surgical procedures, despite the importance of precise force control to prevent such injuries.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic force sensor using an occluded syringe mechanism, based on Boyle's Law, to measure and alert surgeons to critical force thresholds (4 N, 6 N, and 8 N) during UAS insertion, which can be easily assembled from readily available materials in the operating room.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a complex electrically powered force sensor (UCI-FS) is used to measure surgical force, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and accessibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex electrical force sensor with a pneumatic system using a syringe filled with air or gas. The force applied during UAS insertion compresses the gas, and the resulting pressure change is measured to determine the insertion force. This pneumatic approach maintains measurement capability while dramatically simplifying the device structure and eliminating electrical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable syringe-based force sensor that can be easily assembled from common medical supplies. This single-use approach eliminates the need for complex, expensive, reusable electronic sensors requiring calibration and maintenance, while providing sufficient measurement precision for clinical decision-making.
2Measurement precision
If a complex Bluetooth-reliant electrically powered force sensor is used, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic system uses direct mechanical compression of gas in a syringe, with pressure transmission through fluid coupling. This eliminates Bluetooth connectivity requirements and electronic interfaces, making the device immediately operable by any surgeon without technical training on electronic systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The force sensor is designed to be assembled from common operating room supplies (syringes, tubing, connectors) that are already familiar to surgical staff. The system self-calibrates through the known properties of the enclosed gas, eliminating the need for external calibration equipment or complex setup procedures.
3Ease of manufacture
If an occluded syringe mechanism based on Boyle's Law is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but device complexity may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The force sensing system is divided into separate functional modules: the occluded syringe for force application, the fluid coupling mechanism for pressure transmission, and the pressure sensor for measurement. This modular segmentation allows each component to be manufactured using standard medical device processes while maintaining overall system simplicity.
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 provides accurate and cost-effective real-time force monitoring, reducing the risk of ureteral injuries by ensuring safe instrument deployment and minimizing the need for post-operative stents and complications.
Implementation Method 1
The 'air-force one' principle revolves around the application of Boyle's Law (P1V1=P2V2). In an air-tight and occluded 1 mL syringe, compression of the syringe to a specific volume requires a specific amount of pressure.
Implementation Method 2
When the handle of the plunger is pushed towards the first end of the tube, the plunger compresses a fluid within the first lumen of the tube, wherein the compression of the fluid corresponds to an applied force.
Data Source
AI summary
A force sensing device and monitoring system for use in medical procedures, featuring an air-based sensor to quantify force applied during insertion of a ureteral access sheath (UAS), catheter, or other medical instrument. The invention features a pneumatic syringe mechanism, wherein force is measured by compressing an occluded syringe, translating pressure changes into a measurable force output. Real-time feedback is provided via visual, tactile, or auditory indicators, signaling predefined force thresholds (e.g., 4 N, 6 N, and 8 N) to prevent excessive pressure and resultant tissue injury. The invention provides precise, cost-effective, and widely accessible force monitoring without reliance on electronics or Bluetooth® systems, in various surgical fields, including laparoscopy, robotic-assisted surgery, endoscopic procedures, and vascular catheterization, ensuring safe instrument deployment and minimizing complications. The sensor can be integrated into existing medical instruments via Luer-Lock or similar interface connections and may be disposable or reusable.