Medical tool for reduced penetration force with feedback means
Inventors
Frankhouser, Paul L. • Mulvihill, Maureen L. • Park, Brian M.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8870865-B2
Publication Date
2014-10-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
A medical device for reducing the force necessary to penetrate living being tissue using a variety of reciprocating motion actuators, including piezoelectric, voice coil, solenoids, pneumatics or fluidics. The reciprocating actuator drives a penetrating member, such as a needle, through the tissue at a reduced force while the device detects the passage of the penetrating member through the tissue. Upon passage of the penetrating member through the tissue, electrical power to the reciprocating actuator is automatically terminated. One exemplary method for detecting this passage is via a fluid-containing syringe that is coupled to a channel within the penetrating member. Once the penetrating member tip has passed through the living tissue, the fluid within the syringe no longer experiences any pressure and a plunger within the syringe displaces indicating passage of the penetrating member tip. This motion can provide direct tactile feedback to an operator of the medical device or can automatically open a switch providing electrical power to the medical device. Alternatively, a pressure transducer can also monitor the pressure within the penetrating member channel and automatically activate the switch to cut off the electrical power.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a handheld medical device for penetrating living being tissue in which a penetrating member is vibrated to reduce the force needed to penetrate the living being tissue. A driving actuator is coupled to the penetrating member and causes the vibration when energized, producing oscillatory motion at the distal end and the penetrating member. The oscillatory motion is driven using a piezoelectric arrangement in which a channel extends through the piezoelectric element so that the at least one piezoelectric element is disposed circumferentially completely around a length of the channel.
The device further includes an electrical power cut off that automatically de-energizes the medical device when the penetrating member has passed through the living being tissue. The disclosed detection and termination are described conceptually as sensing passage or entry and then cutting power to the actuator automatically, with termination linked to the penetrating member having passed through the tissue. In disclosed embodiments, the automatic power cut off is associated with a loss of resistance mechanism, pressure sensing, or biasing-element motion sensing.
In addition, the invention provides feedback associated with tissue passage and entry into a desired bodily area. Feedback is described as visual, audible, and tactile indicators, with examples including an LED. The disclosed device architectures include actuator and needle configurations such as a Langevin actuator arrangement with standing-wave node and anti-node placement for the distal end, and side-port and channel geometries associated with catheter passage through the penetrating member.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00012, clm-00013, and clm-00019. Across these independent claims, the main inventive features center on a vibrating penetrating member for force reduction, actuator-driven piezoelectric vibration with circumferentially arranged elements around a channel, automatic electrical power cut off tied to tissue passage, and, depending on the claim, catheter-related side port or a loss-of-resistance pump system with a visual indicator.
Vibrating penetrating member for force reduction with automatic power cut off
A medical device for penetrating living being tissue includes a penetrating member which is vibrated to reduce force needed to penetrate living being tissue; a driving actuator coupled to the penetrating member and causing the vibration when energized; and an electrical power cut off automatically de-energizing the medical device when the penetrating member has passed through the living being tissue.
Piezoelectric actuator with circumferential channel-through arrangement
The driving actuator comprises at least one piezoelectric element for converting electrical energy into oscillatory motion when energized, wherein a third channel extends through said at least one piezoelectric element such that said at least one piezoelectric element is disposed circumferentially completely around a length of said third channel; and the distal end and said penetrating member are displaced in oscillatory motion when said at least one piezoelectric element is energized.
Actuator side port providing catheter fluid communication
An electrical power cut off automatically de-energizing said medical device when said penetrating member has passed through said living being tissue, wherein an exterior surface of said driving actuator comprises a side port for providing fluid communication with, or passage of, a catheter within, said penetrating member.
Loss-of-resistance pump system with visual entry indicator
An electrical power cut off automatically de-energizing said medical device when said penetrating member has passed through said living being tissue; and a loss of resistance pump system interfaced with said driving actuator, said loss of resistance pump comprising a visual indicator that automatically indicates entry of said penetrating member within a desired bodily area.
Fluid-containing syringe biasing element indicator tied to tissue passage
An electrical power cut off automatically de-energizing said medical device when said penetrating member has passed through said living being tissue; and a fluid-containing syringe coupled to said driving actuator, said fluid-containing syringe comprising a moveable biasing element disposed therein, wherein said biasing element is in fluid communication with a channel within said penetrating member, said biasing element providing an indicator when said penetrating member has passed through said living being tissue.
The independent claims consistently require a penetrating member vibrated to reduce penetration force and an actuator energized during penetration with an electrical power cut off that de-energizes the device when the penetrating member has passed through living tissue. The claims further distinguish embodiments by a piezoelectric actuator architecture where piezoelectric elements are circumferentially disposed around a channel, an actuator side port for catheter fluid communication, and a loss-of-resistance pump system with a visual indicator or a fluid-containing syringe having a moveable biasing element that provides an indicator tied to penetration through tissue.
Stated Advantages
Reduces the force needed to penetrate living being tissue.
Automatically de-energizes the medical device when the penetrating member has passed through the living being tissue.
Automatically indicates entry of the penetrating member within a desired bodily area using a visual indicator.
Provides an indicator when the penetrating member has passed through the living being tissue using a moveable biasing element in a fluid-containing syringe.
Documented Applications
Epidural needle tool operation (described as an epidural needle example).
Vascular entry needle tool operation (described as a vascular entry needle example).
Bone biopsy tool operation (described as a bone biopsy needle, stylet, or trocar example).
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