Valve Assembly for Fluidized Hemostatic Agent Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for delivering hemostatic agents during endoscopic procedures face issues such as requiring multiple steps, inconsistent dosing, agent clogging, and failure to reach deep treatment sites within the gastrointestinal tract.
Innovation Solution
A valve assembly with a movable piston that controls the delivery of powdered agents by moving between regions to mix with pressurized fluid, preventing clogging and ensuring consistent dosing through controlled fluidization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical systems are used for agent delivery, then delivery can be achieved through mechanical actuation, but the system requires numerous steps or actuations and may not achieve desired delivery rates or dosages
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system is segmented into distinct functional regions within the enclosure: a first region for receiving powdered agent, a second region for mixing with pressurized fluid, and a third region for delivery. The piston is similarly segmented with separate chambers including a first chamber for agent receipt and a second chamber for fluid mixing. This segmentation allows simultaneous preparation and delivery operations, reducing the number of actuation steps required.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston performs preliminary action by moving to the first position to receive a predetermined amount of powdered agent into the first chamber before delivery is initiated. This pre-loading of the agent into the chamber eliminates the need for continuous feeding during delivery, enabling faster and more consistent delivery rates without requiring multiple actuation steps.
2Reliability
If mechanical delivery systems are used, then agent can be delivered, but the agent may clog portions of the delivery device
Solution Approach 1:
Pressurized fluid acts as an intermediary medium between the powdered agent and the delivery catheter. The agent is first received in the first chamber, then mixed with pressurized fluid in the second chamber to create a slurry or suspension. This fluid intermediary prevents the powdered agent from directly contacting and potentially clogging mechanical components of the delivery system, while still enabling controlled delivery through the catheter.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and parameters of the agent by transitioning it from a dry powdered form in the first chamber to a fluidized slurry or suspension in the second chamber through mixing with pressurized fluid. This parameter change from solid powder to fluid suspension eliminates clogging issues while maintaining consistent dosing, as the fluidized state allows smooth flow through the delivery catheter.
3Length of stationary object
If agent is delivered to deep treatment sites, then remote sites can be treated, but existing systems may not result in the agent reaching the treatment site
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs pneumatic principles by utilizing pressurized gas or fluid to drive the delivery process. Pressurized fluid is introduced into the second chamber to mix with the agent, creating a pressurized slurry that can be forcefully propelled through the delivery catheter to deep treatment sites within the gastrointestinal tract. This pneumatic/hydraulic propulsion ensures reliable delivery to remote sites that cannot be reached by passive or mechanically actuated systems.
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 enables efficient, controlled delivery of hemostatic agents, minimizing clogging and ensuring consistent dosing to deep treatment sites within the gastrointestinal tract.
Implementation Method 1
mixing with pressurized fluid, preventing clogging and ensuring consistent dosing through controlled fluidization
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Disclosed is a medical device for delivering an agent. The device comprises: a valve assembly for selectively releasing the agent to a site of a medical procedure, the valve assembly including a valve configured to transition between one or more configurations for moving the agent from a first area that stores the agent, the first area not being in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source that supplies a pressurized fluid, to a second area in which the agent encounters the pressurized fluid. The valve permits receipt of the pressurized fluid through the valve assembly and out of the medical device via the second area without the agent in response to the valve being in a first configuration that inhibits fluid communication between the agent stored the first area and the pressurized fluid. The valve further permits receipt of the pressurized fluid through the valve assembly and out of the medical device via the second area with the agent in response to the valve being in a second configuration that allows fluid communication between the agent moved to the second area and the pressurized fluid.