Transesophageal Transducer Torque Protection for Probe Tip Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transesophageal echocardiography devices lack a mechanism to prevent excessive flexing or pressure of the probe tip, which can cause injury to patients, especially in inexperienced users.

Innovation Solution

A transesophageal transducer with a torque protection mechanism along the probe tip control cable that prevents rotation or flexing beyond a safe pressure threshold, typically set between 40-60 oz-in (0.3-0.4 Nm), to avoid tissue damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If manual manipulation of the transesophageal transducer probe is used to control rotation and flexing, then the device can be operated with simple structure, but excessive pressure and flexing may occur causing patient injury

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structureVSAvoidpatient injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The torque protection mechanism is pre-configured with a predetermined torque threshold (e.g., 40 oz-in or 60 oz-in) that automatically activates to prevent excessive force application. This preliminary safety mechanism is built into the control cable assembly before use, eliminating the need for operator judgment and ensuring consistent protection against tissue damage regardless of user experience level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If torque protection mechanism is added to the probe tip control cable, then patient safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient injury riskVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The torque protection mechanism serves as an intermediary element integrated into the probe tip control cable assembly. It acts as a mechanical mediator between the operator's manual manipulation and the probe tip, automatically limiting the transmission of excessive torque while maintaining normal operational flexibility. This intermediary component is designed to be compact and integrated, minimizing additional complexity while providing essential safety functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250325323A1Transesophageal transducer to increase patient safety

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

A transesophageal transducer comprising: a transesophageal handle; a transesophageal probe tip; a probe tip control cable extending from the transesophageal handle to the transesophageal probe tip, wherein the probe tip control cable controls at least one of rotation and flexing of the probe tip in one or more directions; a torque protection mechanism positioned along the probe tip control cable, wherein the torque protection mechanism is configured to prevent rotation or flexing of the transesophageal probe tip at a pressure that could pose a risk to a patient.