Inflatable Tracheal Balloon Pressure Control for TEE Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
During transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) procedures, the indirect contact between the TEE probe and an inflatable member in the respiratory tract leads to increased pressure, potentially causing tissue damage to the trachea wall, especially when the probe moves within the esophagus.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an inflatable member and a pressure monitoring and control member, where the pressure control member is an elastically expandable balloon located outside the patient's body, which expands to absorb excessive pressure and limit the pressure increase within the inflatable member, preventing tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the TEE probe moves within the esophagus to perform imaging, then the imaging capability is improved, but the pressure within the inflatable member increases excessively causing potential tissue damage to the trachea
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a pressure relief mechanism that is pre-configured to activate when pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold. This mechanism includes a valve or compliant component that automatically releases excess pressure before it can cause tissue damage, providing protective cushioning in advance of potential harm while allowing the probe to move freely for imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable member acts as an intermediary element between the TEE probe and the trachea wall. By controlling the pressure within this intermediary balloon, the system decouples the mechanical movements of the probe from direct transmission to the trachea, allowing imaging motion while isolating the tissue from harmful pressure forces through fluid compliance and pressure regulation.
2Measurement precision
If the inflatable member is filled with ultrasonic transmission fluid to enable imaging through the trachea, then the ultrasonic transmission is improved, but the pressure control becomes critical to avoid tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates pressure sensing and control mechanisms that continuously monitor the pressure within the inflatable member and provide feedback to a control system. When pressure approaches threshold levels, the system automatically adjusts fluid inflow or activates relief mechanisms, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains pressure within safe limits while ensuring adequate inflation for ultrasonic transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the compressibility and elasticity of the inflatable member material to dynamically adjust pressure parameters. By selecting materials with specific elastic properties and designing the balloon geometry appropriately, the system allows pressure to increase within safe margins during probe manipulation while automatically compliance-adjusting to prevent tissue damage, thus changing the pressure parameter response to operational conditions.
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 system effectively controls pressure within the inflatable member, reducing the risk of trachea wall damage during TEE procedures and allowing for safe ultrasonic imaging by preventing excessive pressure buildup.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure monitoring and control member is an elastically expandable balloon made from a material which is configured to expand elastically when the pressure in the balloon increases above a predetermined threshold pressure
Implementation Method 2
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is an ultrasonic imaging method widely used imaging technique for evaluating cardiac structure, function, and valvular anatomy
Data Source
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AI summary
A system with at least one inflatable member configured for being arranged in a part of the patient' s respiratory tract, comprising a catheter carrying the at least one inflatable member to be arranged in the respiratory tract, said catheter comprising a fluid line for filling the inflatable member with a fluid; a pressure monitoring and control member to be arranged outside the patient' s body, said pressure monitoring member being in fluid communication with the inflatable member and being configured to receive, during operation, fluid from the inflatable member when the pressure increases above a predetermined threshold pressure and to return said received fluid when the pressure decreases below said predetermined threshold pressure; wherein the pressure monitoring and control member is an elastically expandable balloon made from a material which is configured to expand elastically when the pressure in the balloon increases above a predetermined threshold pressure and to contract when the pressure decreases below said predetermined threshold pressure.