Variable Stiffness Medical Device for Navigation and Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical procedures require either flexible or rigid needles, leading to cumbersome and time-consuming processes, as well as potential trauma to the patient, due to the need to switch between these configurations during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A variable stiffness medical device comprising a catheter with unlocking features that allow a medical instrument to be flexible within the catheter and rigid outside of it, utilizing locking features to change its stiffness based on its position, enabling easy navigation and sampling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flexible needle is used for needle insertion and steering, then ease of navigation through anatomy is improved, but the ability to perform rigid tissue sampling function deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The needle assembly dynamically changes its stiffness property based on its position relative to the catheter. When inside the catheter, the flexible needle maintains flexibility for navigation. When outside the catheter, the needle becomes rigid to perform tissue sampling. This dynamic property change is achieved through the interaction between the flexible needle and the catheter's unlocking features, which engage to provide rigidity when the needle is exterior to the catheter.
2Strength
If a rigid needle is used for tissue sampling, then tissue sampling function is improved, but ease of navigation through anatomy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the needle's mechanical properties to match procedural requirements. During the navigation phase, the needle remains flexible within the catheter. During the sampling phase, the needle transitions to a rigid state upon exiting the catheter, providing the necessary strength for tissue sampling while maintaining ease of navigation during insertion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate flexible and rigid needles are used, then functional versatility is improved, but device complexity and procedural time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of two separate needles (flexible needle for navigation and rigid needle for sampling) into a single integrated needle assembly. The flexible needle and rigid needle are combined such that the same physical needle provides both flexible navigation capability when within the catheter and rigid sampling capability when outside the catheter, eliminating the need for separate instruments and reducing procedural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as a flexible navigation tool when inside the catheter and as a rigid sampling tool when outside the catheter. This universal design allows a single device to replace what would traditionally require two separate instruments, simplifying the overall system and reducing the number of parts needed.
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate flexible and rigid needles are used, then functional versatility is improved, but procedural time and patient trauma deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the flexible and rigid needle functions into a single integrated assembly, the procedure eliminates the time-consuming steps of removing a flexible needle, inserting a rigid needle, and performing separate insertion and sampling actions. The unified needle assembly allows continuous operation from navigation through sampling without instrument changes, reducing procedural time and patient trauma.
Data Source
AI summary
A device including a catheter (14) and a medical instrument (12). The catheter includes an inner portion (16) and one or more unlocking features (18). The medical instrument includes one or more locking features (24). When the medical instrument is in the inner portion of the catheter, the one or more unlocking features engage the one or more locking features so that the medical instrument can bend in the catheter. When the medical instrument is outside the catheter, the one or more unlocking features disengage from the one or more locking features so that the medical instrument is restricted from bending.