Telescoping Intervertebral Disc Needle System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intradiscal therapeutic delivery methods face challenges such as increased infection risk and mechanical instability due to the need for sturdy needles and separate needle assemblies, which complicate safe and controlled access to the intervertebral disc.
Innovation Solution
A pre-assembled, telescoping needle system with a larger gauge outer needle and a smaller gauge inner needle, where the inner needle is shielded by the outer needle during insertion, allowing controlled advancement and minimizing exposure to the disc, thereby reducing infection risk and facilitating precise delivery of therapeutic agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a single fine gauge needle is used to penetrate skin and musculature approaching the intervertebral disc, then the needle can be less sturdy and cause less tissue damage, but the risk of infection to the disc increases because the same needle that pierces the skin also enters the disc
Solution Approach 1:
The needle system is divided into two separate components: an outer needle for skin penetration and an inner needle for disc entry. This segmentation allows each needle to be optimized for its specific function - the outer needle can be larger and sturdier for penetrating skin and muscle, while the inner needle can be fine-gauge for minimizing tissue damage and infection risk during disc access
Solution Approach 2:
The inner needle is nested within the outer needle, with the inner needle passing through the lumen of the outer needle. This nested configuration allows the fine-gauge inner needle to be protected and guided by the outer needle during insertion, enabling controlled advancement to the disc while maintaining sterility
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a double needle approach is used with a larger gauge needle for skin penetration and a second finer gauge needle passed through the first, then the infection risk is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to requiring two separate needles and manual insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The outer needle and inner needle are combined into a single integrated assembly where the inner needle is pre-positioned within the outer needle. This merged design eliminates the need for manual assembly of two separate needles, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining the infection-reducing benefits of the dual-needle approach
Solution Approach 2:
The inner needle is pre-assembled within the outer needle before the procedure begins. This preliminary configuration allows the operator to simply advance the complete assembly as a unit, eliminating the need for manual insertion of the second needle through the first during the procedure and thereby reducing complexity
3Measurement precision
If a telescoping needle system with shielded inner needle is used, then the infection risk is reduced and injection precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the telescoping mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The needle system incorporates a telescoping mechanism that allows dynamic adjustment of the inner needle's extension relative to the outer needle. This dynamic configuration enables controlled advancement of the inner needle to precise depths for injection, while the telescoping action simplifies the mechanism compared to fixed-length multi-component assemblies
Data Source
AI summary
A pre-assembled, telescoping elongate system comprising an outer elongate member surrounding a finer gauge inner elongate member which, after percutaneous penetration by the outer elongate element, extends to penetrate an intervertebral disc into which a sensing element and/or an injectable may be delivered.