Thread Insertion Device Cover Member Hydration Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrophilic hyaluronic acid threads used in dermal filler injections face mechanical integrity degradation during implantation, leading to premature hydration, swelling, and potential breakage, which complicates proper placement and increases the risk of thread contamination and tissue engagement.
Innovation Solution
The development of thread insertion devices with a cover member to protect and align the thread, allowing for single-strand placement and minimizing piercings, while featuring a handle and tubular member to control needle movement and prevent contamination, facilitating precise positioning and reduced trauma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the thread is exposed during insertion into the patient, then the thread can be placed along the desired position, but the thread becomes hydrated causing it to swell or expand prematurely and lose its tensile strength
Solution Approach 1:
A cover member acts as an intermediary barrier between the hydrophilic thread and the aqueous environment. The cover member includes a cavity that receives and protects the thread during insertion, preventing direct contact with bodily fluids while allowing the thread to be positioned along the desired path. This mediator prevents premature hydration while maintaining placement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member functions as a flexible protective shell that encloses the thread. This thin-film structure allows the cover to conform to the insertion path while maintaining its protective function, preventing fluid penetration to the thread surface without restricting the thread's ability to be positioned accurately.
2Ease of operation
If the thread is exposed during insertion, then the thread can be manipulated for placement, but friction between the thread and tissue may increase beyond the tensile strength of the thread causing it to break
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member serves as a protective intermediary that shields the thread from direct frictional contact with tissue during insertion. By maintaining the thread within the covered cavity, the interface between thread and tissue is eliminated, preventing friction-induced breakage while preserving manipulative control.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member provides beforehand protection by enclosing the thread prior to and during insertion. This pre-established protective barrier prevents harmful frictional forces from acting on the thread, cushioning it against mechanical stress that would otherwise exceed its tensile strength.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional devices place double-stranded thread, then the placement is straightforward, but the minimum expansion size is twice that of a single thread limiting treatment options
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables segmentation of the threading process by allowing single-strand placement rather than requiring double-stranded configuration. The cover member facilitates independent manipulation and placement of individual thread strands, enabling treatment of smaller wrinkles and more versatile application scenarios while maintaining procedural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from the conventional two-strand configuration to a single-strand approach, effectively changing the dimensional arrangement. This allows treatment of areas with smaller minimum expansion requirements, expanding the applicability to previously inaccessible wrinkle types and locations.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the thread swells within the needle or insertion device, then the thread becomes lodged and unable to move, but this blocks the needle lumen and prevents separation of the thread from the insertion device
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member acts as a protective intermediary that maintains a controlled environment for the thread during insertion. By preventing fluid ingress into the covered cavity, the thread remains dehydrated and maintains its original dimensions, eliminating swelling-related lodging issues and simplifying the insertion procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member establishes preliminary protection before hydration can occur. By enclosing the thread in advance, the system prevents the sequence of events leading to swelling and lodging, ensuring smooth passage through the insertion device without blockage or separation complications.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for inserting an implant into skin or other tissue of a patient can include an insertion device having moveable portions that can retain, move, or otherwise control engagement and injection of a hyaluronic thread. The device can include a tubular member and a handle. The handle can include a body component coupled to the tubular member. The body component can include a passage that extends in communication with the lumen. The handle can further comprise first and second arms coupled to the body component and extending outwardly from the distal portion of the tubular member. Based on the configuration, the first and second arms can be positioned along the passage to change a cross-sectional profile of the passage and permit the device to engage or disengage the thread.