Urethral Needle Guide Device Vacuum Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for injecting bulking agents into the urethral wall to treat female urinary incontinence face challenges in accurately determining proper placement and depth, often requiring complex equipment and visualization, which may not be available to all practitioners.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum-assisted device that applies suction to the urethral wall to create a stable transition region, allowing a needle to be inserted parallel to the wall at a consistent depth, enabling precise injection of the bulking agent without the need for extensive equipment or complex manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional injection devices are used without vacuum assistance, then the device structure remains simple, but the placement precision and depth control of the needle are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vacuum-assisted guide device as an intermediary tool that temporarily holds the urethral wall tissue to provide a stable reference surface. This mediator enables precise needle placement without requiring complex visualization equipment, resolving the contradiction between precision and device simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum guide device is inserted and secured to the urethral wall before needle insertion. This preliminary action creates a stabilized tissue surface that guides subsequent needle placement at the correct depth and angle, eliminating the need for trial-and-error positioning
2Reliability
If visualization equipment and vacuum sources are provided to improve injection accuracy, then the injection precision improves, but the equipment requirements and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vacuum source, guide device, and needle insertion pathway into a single integrated unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate vacuum equipment and visualization tools, maintaining high injection accuracy while simplifying the overall operational process
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum guide device creates its own stable reference surface by adhering to the urethral wall tissue. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external visualization equipment or additional support accessories, making the device easy to operate while maintaining reliability
3Measurement precision
If the needle is inserted at an angle to reach the target depth, then the insertion path is shorter, but the depth control becomes less accurate
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum guide device creates a localized stable reference surface at the insertion site. The needle is inserted parallel to this stabilized surface, ensuring consistent depth control throughout the insertion path. This local stabilization allows for longer, more controlled needle paths without sacrificing depth precision
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 device ensures reliable and repeated injection of the bulking agent at the correct location, reducing the risk of tissue rupture and ensuring effective treatment with minimal equipment requirements.
Implementation Method 1
displacing a first portion of the urethral wall by applying suction to the urethral wall to form an immobilized transition wall region
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices for treating female urinary incontinence by injecting bulking material into the female urethral wall. Some devices include a handle, an elongate member attached to the handle, and a vacuum generating syringe removably secured to the handle. The elongate member can include a distal portion projecting distally from the handle, the distal portion having a wide proximal region, a narrowing shoulder, and a narrow distal region. The elongate member can include one or more vacuum ports on either side of the shoulder region. The shoulder can include a distally facing needle aperture allowing passage of a needle for injecting bulking agent. A rotatable connection between the elongate member and the handle facilitates rotatable positioning of the elongate member to permit injection of bulking material at different locations around the urethral wall. In use, the urethral tissue can be pulled to conform against the device elongate member by generating a vacuum through the elongate member ports, inserting the needle through the elongate member and needle aperture, and predictably injecting bulking material inside of and along the immobilized urethral wall. The self contained vacuum generator, simple design and wide allowable margin of needle travel allow for use in a practitioner's office.