Ventilation Tube Tab Geometry for Precise Ear Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ventilation tubes face challenges in precise insertion due to difficulties in visual and haptic feedback during placement, leading to issues such as improper positioning, increased pain, procedural time, and risk of displacement, especially in children with underdeveloped Eustachian tubes.
Innovation Solution
The design of ventilation tubes with specific geometries, including beveled ends, medial and lateral flanges, and lateral tabs, provides visual and haptic feedback to ensure proper insertion, minimizing over or under insertion, and incorporates features like multiple lumens and flexible flanges for enhanced stability and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional ventilation tubes are used, then the insertion procedure is simple, but visual and haptic feedback during placement is insufficient leading to improper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral tab is designed with a visible color contrast relative to the hollow body, enabling clinicians to visually track the tube's orientation and depth during insertion. This color differentiation provides continuous visual feedback without adding mechanical complexity to the tube structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral tab protruding from the hollow body serves as a haptic feedback mechanism, allowing clinicians to physically sense the tube's position and orientation during insertion. The tab's geometry provides tactile cues that indicate proper placement depth and angle.
2Productivity
If conventional ventilation tubes are used, then the device structure is simple, but procedural time increases due to lack of insertion feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The colored lateral tab enables rapid visual assessment of tube insertion status, allowing clinicians to quickly determine proper positioning without requiring complex instrumentation or prolonged observation. This accelerates the insertion procedure while maintaining simple tube construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral tab automatically provides both visual and haptic feedback during insertion without requiring external devices or additional操作步骤. The tube structure itself serves the dual function of ventilation and insertion guidance, eliminating the need for separate positioning aids.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional ventilation tubes are used, then the tube structure is simple, but mechanical stress on the eardrum increases due to improper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral tab provides real-time haptic feedback that allows clinicians to sense resistance and adjust insertion depth, preventing excessive force application to the eardrum. This feedback mechanism enables gentle, controlled insertion that minimizes mechanical stress while maintaining simple tube design.
4Reliability
If conventional ventilation tubes are used, then the device is simple, but risk of early displacement increases due to lack of positioning control
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral tab serves as a positioning reference that provides both visual confirmation of correct depth and haptic feedback for orientation control. This dual feedback system ensures accurate initial placement and reduces the risk of early displacement while keeping the tube structure simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilation tube comprising a hollow body oriented along a central axis and having an inner facing wall, an outer facing wall, a medial end and a lateral end. The hollow body including a length that extends from the medial end to the lateral end. A lateral tab includes a base end coupled to the outer facing wall of the hollow body and extends outwardly from the outer facing wall to a free end. The lateral tab is located between and spaced apart from the medial end and the lateral end. The base end includes a first length that extends lengthwise along the hollow body and the free end includes a second length. The first length of the base end of the lateral tab is greater than the second length of the free end of the lateral tab.