Veress-Type Needle Assembly With Pressure-Activated Pleural Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for tension pneumothorax and hemothorax are risky, often causing lung injury and require additional procedures, lack documentation, and are unsuitable for emergency use.
Innovation Solution
A Veress-type needle assembly with an automatic check valve and pressure indicator that allows simultaneous or near-simultaneous treatment and documentation of tension pneumothorax and hemothorax, minimizing lung injury risk and providing stable documentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If traditional needle decompression is used to treat tension pneumothorax, then pressure relief is achieved, but lung injury and iatrogenic pneumothorax risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
A protective catheter is introduced as an intermediary element between the needle and the lung. The catheter has a blunt tip that contacts the lung first, acting as a mediator to prevent direct needle-lung contact and subsequent injury, while still allowing pressure relief through the catheter's lumens
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates a protective catheter positioned beforehand to cushion or absorb the potential harmful effect of needle penetration. The blunt-tipped catheter is placed in advance to prevent direct needle contact with the lung, thereby cushioning against iatrogenic injury while maintaining decompression function
2Stress or pressure
If wide-bore needle and plastic cannula are used for chest decompression, then pressure release is achieved, but an open passage remains in the chest wall requiring subsequent tube thoracostomy
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into functional components: a needle for penetration, a protective catheter for lung protection and pressure relief, and a check valve system for controlled venting. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function, with the catheter serving as a temporary seal that eliminates the need for subsequent tube thoracostomy
Solution Approach 2:
The protective catheter maintains continuous pressure relief and lung protection function throughout the procedure. The check valve ensures continuous one-way venting of pleural pressure while preventing air entry, providing uninterrupted useful action that eliminates the need for follow-up procedures
3Speed
If sharp needle tip is used for chest wall penetration, then penetration effectiveness is improved, but iatrogenic injury to lung or heart increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device inverts the traditional sharp tip approach by using a blunt-tipped protective catheter as the primary penetrating element. The blunt tip contacts the lung first to prevent injury, while the sharp needle tip remains retracted or protected, effectively reversing the conventional wisdom that sharp tips are always superior for penetration
4Measurement precision
If diagnostic confirmation by chest x-ray or ultrasound is performed, then accurate diagnosis is achieved, but time for treatment is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The device provides self-diagnostic capability through an integrated pressure indicator that visually displays pleural pressure status during the procedure itself. The indicator changes color or position based on pressure detection, allowing immediate diagnosis confirmation without requiring separate diagnostic imaging, thereby eliminating time loss while maintaining accuracy
5Object-affected harmful factors
If check valve is added to prevent air introduction, then iatrogenic pneumothorax is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve is designed as a passive, self-regulating mechanism that automatically opens to vent pleural pressure when positive pressure is present and closes to prevent air entry when negative pressure is present. This self-service design eliminates the need for complex control systems or manual operation, maintaining simplicity while effectively preventing iatrogenic pneumothorax
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 safely and efficiently treats tension pneumothorax and hemothorax with minimal risk of iatrogenic injury, allowing immediate confirmation of treatment success and reducing the need for further procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The connected Veress needle and automatic check valve are adapted to transmit the pressure of air and/or fluid within the pleural cavity to the interior surface of the pressure indicator
Implementation Method 2
The connected Veress needle and automatic check valve are adapted to transmit the pressure of air and/or fluid within the pleural cavity to the interior surface of the pressure indicator, such that if a pressure greater than environmental (e.g. atmospheric) pressure is present, the pressure indicator will be urged proximally to lock in a proximal configuration
Implementation Method 3
a spring which is coupled to the probe and which resiliently biases the probe forward with respect to the hollow needle such that the blunt distal end of the probe extends past the sharp distal end of the needle
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device are provided for simultaneously or near-simultaneously diagnosing and treating tension pneumothorax and/or hemothorax. A Veress-type needle portion includes a hollow needle for puncturing the chest wall over a blunt hollow probe biased by one or more springs to extend distally into the pleural cavity. Openings in the blunt hollow probe connect via a pathway to an automatic check valve, which permits the flow of air and/or fluid only in a proximal direction. Pressure from within the pleural cavity is transmitted to the interior surface of a pressure documenter. If pressure greater than atmospheric pressure is present in the pleural cavity, the pressure documenter will be automatically urged proximally to simultaneously allow air and/or fluid to escape from the pleural space through the device, thus treating the tension pneumothorax and/or hemothorax, as well as providing a stable indicator to positively document the diagnosis of increased pressure.