Telescoping Support Assembly for Flexible Instrument Buckling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing minimally invasive medical systems face challenges in supporting flexible interventional instruments as they are inserted into patient anatomy, leading to undesirable deformation such as bending or buckling, which can damage internal components like optical fiber shape sensors or endoscopic equipment.
Innovation Solution
A telescoping support assembly with radially offset support members featuring elongate wedges that taper from a wide base to a narrow tip, allowing the assembly to transition between compressed and expanded configurations to stabilize the instrument along its length, minimizing buckling and providing lateral support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flexible interventional instrument is inserted into patient anatomy without support, then the instrument can be maneuvered through anatomical passageways, but the instrument bends, twists, or buckles in an undesirable manner causing deformation
Solution Approach 1:
A support assembly is introduced as an intermediary device between the flexible interventional instrument and the external environment. The support assembly includes multiple support members that can be independently positioned along the instrument's length to provide targeted support, preventing buckling and deformation while allowing the instrument to remain flexible for maneuverability through anatomical passageways.
Solution Approach 2:
The support assembly is divided into multiple discrete support members that can be independently adjusted and positioned along the instrument. This segmentation allows the support structure to adapt to the instrument's specific needs at different locations, providing stability where required while maintaining flexibility in other areas for maneuverability.
2Speed
If force is exerted to insert the flexible instrument into the patient's anatomy, then the instrument can be advanced, but the flexible nature of the instrument causes it to bend, twist, or buckle
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are pre-positioned along the instrument before insertion forces are applied. This preliminary support structure prevents the instrument from buckling or deforming during the insertion process, allowing force to be exerted for advancement without compromising the instrument's structural integrity or causing undesirable bending and twisting.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the flexible instrument is made more rigid to prevent deformation, then instrument stability improves, but the instrument loses maneuverability through anatomical passageways
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly is segmented into multiple independent support members that can be selectively positioned along the instrument's length. This allows different portions of the instrument to have different levels of support: closer support members provide stability to prevent deformation, while more distant members maintain flexibility for maneuverability through anatomical passageways.
Solution Approach 2:
The support assembly provides localized support at specific positions along the instrument rather than uniform rigidity throughout. This local quality approach allows the instrument to be stable where needed (near the distal end for procedure performance) while remaining flexible where maneuverability is required (proximal portions for navigation).
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is an apparatus for guiding an elongated flexible instrument, the apparatus comprising a telescoping support assembly including a plurality of support members extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end. Each of the support members comprises a ring having an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one flange. Each flange extends from the inner surface of the ring to define a central passageway extending along the longitudinal axis and having a substantially constant width, which is configured to receive the elongated flexible instrument. The assembly is configured to selectively transition from a compressed to an expanded configuration along the longitudinal axis while each support member is interlocked with at least one other support member, and is adapted to support the elongated flexible instrument as the instrument is advanced along the longitudinal axis.