Vascular Puncture Device with Ultrasound Imaging and Force Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated vascular puncture systems face challenges in accurately positioning the distal end of the outer tube within a blood vessel without relying on operator skill, leading to potential misplacement and increased bleeding.
Innovation Solution
A vascular puncture device and system that utilize an imaging unit to acquire cross-sectional images, a drive unit to move the inner needle and outer tube, and a detection unit to monitor entry or contact with the blood vessel, with a control unit controlling the puncture process based on image analysis and force sensor feedback to ensure accurate placement of the outer tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automated vascular puncture is performed without operator skill, then automation is improved, but positioning accuracy of the outer tube distal end deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs real-time feedback through force sensors that detect changes in resistance during needle insertion. When the needle tip contacts the back wall of the blood vessel, the sensor detects the force change and provides feedback to the control unit, which then stops the puncture automatically. This feedback mechanism enables automated puncture to achieve positioning accuracy comparable to operator skill.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical tactile perception skill of operators with an automated force detection system. The force sensor electronically detects the mechanical contact between the needle tip and the blood vessel back wall, substituting the operator's tactile sense with an automated sensing and control system that determines puncture termination.
2Ease of operation
If the distal end of the outer tube is not sufficiently inserted into the blood vessel, then ease of insertion is improved, but reliability of vascular access deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The force sensor provides real-time feedback during the insertion process, detecting when the needle tip has successfully contacted the back wall of the blood vessel. This feedback ensures that the outer tube is inserted to the appropriate depth, maintaining reliability of vascular access while automating the procedure to preserve ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of the blood vessel back wall contact before finalizing the insertion. By detecting the force change when the needle tip contacts the back wall, the system determines the appropriate insertion depth in advance, ensuring both ease of insertion and reliability of vascular access.
3Ease of operation
If the distal end of the outer tube comes out of the blood vessel after inner needle removal, then ease of removal is improved, but reliability of vascular access deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The force sensor detects the contact between the needle tip and the blood vessel back wall, providing feedback to ensure the outer tube is positioned correctly before the inner needle is removed. This feedback mechanism prevents the distal end of the outer tube from coming out of the blood vessel after removal, maintaining reliability while preserving ease of removal operation.
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 positions the outer tube within the blood vessel, reducing bleeding and simplifying the procedure by eliminating the need for operator-dependent tactile perception, thereby enhancing the accuracy and safety of vascular puncture.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging unit that comes into contact with a skin surface and acquires a cross-sectional image of a human body
Implementation Method 2
a detection unit that detects entry of a distal end of the outer tube into the blood vessel, or detects contact or puncture of the needle tip with respect to a back wall of the blood vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A vascular puncture device punctures a blood vessel using an imaging unit that comes into contact with a skin surface and acquires a cross-sectional image of a human body, an inner needle including a sharp needle tip, a flexible outer tube covering the inner needle, a drive unit moving the inner needle and the outer tube, and a detection unit detecting puncture of the needle tip with respect to a blood vessel back wall, and includes a control unit capable of receiving information on the cross-sectional image, controlling an operation of the drive unit, and receiving a detection result from the detection unit. The control unit controls the drive unit to move the inner needle and the outer tube to puncture the blood vessel with the inner needle, and controls the drive unit to stop the puncture with the inner needle.