Combined type active advancing guide pipe

Abstract

The invention provides a combined type active advancing catheter. The combined type active advancing catheter comprises an inner catheter body, an outer catheter body arranged on the outer side of the inner catheter body in a sleeving mode, an inflatable balloon arranged on the side of the head section of the inner catheter body and a power pump. An inner catheter cavity is formed in the inner catheter, and an outer catheter cavity is formed in the outer catheter; when the inflatable and deflatable balloon is full, the inner catheter is connected with the outer catheter through the inflatable and deflatable balloon; the head end of the inner catheter cavity is closed to form a blind end, a side hole is formed in the side wall of the head section of the inner catheter, and the outer catheter cavity is communicated with the inner catheter cavity through the side hole; the power pump is communicated with the tail end of the inner catheter cavity or the tail end of the outer catheter cavity through a medium input pipe. According to the technical scheme, through detachable combination of the inner catheter and the outer catheter, the cavity of the outer catheter and the cavity of the inner catheter form two medium channels with opposite flow directions, and active advancing of the head end of the catheter is achieved through fluid backflow acting force.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical device technology, and more particularly to a catheter, and more specifically, a combined active-traveling catheter. Background Technology

[0002] In the medical field, catheters are delivered to target locations via inherent cavities such as blood vessels, the respiratory tract, and the digestive tract. Sampling, monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment can then be performed via the catheter or catheter delivery devices. Accurate and convenient delivery of the catheter to the target site is crucial to meeting these needs. Traditional catheter insertion methods primarily involve the tail-pushing method, which requires a guidewire for initial guidance and can only be pushed a short distance without guidance. However, clinical catheter insertion requires diverse and complex scenarios, rendering the above methods inadequate. To address this issue, existing technology has developed a tip-driven active-travel catheter, as shown in CN120960596A. This tip-driven active-travel catheter generates a reverse thrust by injecting a fluid medium into the central lumen and ejecting liquid in the reverse flow path on the tube wall. This thrust provides forward momentum to the catheter tip, allowing the catheter to move actively with its tip pulled, thus reaching the predetermined location within the cavity more quickly and accurately.

[0003] However, the inventors discovered that although the above-mentioned improved method effectively achieved the active movement of the conduit, it required opening multiple holes in the conduit wall as a reverse flow path. These holes were set along the length of the conduit. Since the conduit is relatively soft and has a thin wall, the processing of the holes was very difficult, leading to increased manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the quality of the holes was difficult to guarantee, which would have an adverse effect on the application effect of the final product.

[0004] Therefore, how to improve the active travel guide at the head end, reduce its processing difficulty, and thus ensure the stability and reliability of the final product is a problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a catheter, particularly a combined active travel catheter, to reduce the processing difficulty of existing active travel catheters, thereby ensuring the stability and reliability of the final product.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a combined active traveling catheter, comprising an inner catheter (or daughter catheter), an outer catheter (or mother catheter) sleeved outside the inner catheter, an inflatable balloon disposed on the side of the head section of the inner catheter, and a power pump; the inner catheter has an inner catheter lumen inside, and the outer catheter has an outer catheter lumen inside; when the inflatable balloon is inflated with media, the inner catheter is connected to the outer catheter through the inflatable balloon; the inner catheter lumen is closed at the head end to form a blind end, and a side hole is also provided on the side wall of the inner catheter, through which the inner catheter lumen and the outer catheter lumen communicate; the power pump is connected to the tail end of the inner catheter lumen or the tail end of the outer catheter lumen through a media input pipe.

[0007] Furthermore, there are multiple side holes, which are evenly distributed circumferentially.

[0008] Furthermore, when the power pump is connected to the inner conduit cavity, the tail section of the outer conduit cavity is fitted with an annular plug, and the annular plug has a through-hole. In this case, there can be multiple nozzles, which are evenly distributed circumferentially.

[0009] Furthermore, when the power pump is connected to the outer conduit cavity, a conversion joint is also fitted inside the tail section of the outer conduit cavity, and a side branch for connecting the medium input pipe is provided on the side of the conversion joint. At this time, a tail plug can also be fitted inside the tail section of the inner conduit cavity, and a through opening is provided in the middle of the tail plug.

[0010] Furthermore, the inflatable balloon is connected to the balloon inflation / deflation pump via a balloon connecting tube, which is located in the wall of the inner catheter or in the lumen of the inner catheter.

[0011] The above technical solution has the following beneficial effects:

[0012] In this technical solution, an inflatable balloon allows for the detachable combination of the inner and outer catheter tips, creating two media pathways with opposite flow directions between the inner and outer catheter lumens. This enables active movement of the catheter tip. Only a short transverse side hole needs to be made in the inner catheter wall, eliminating the need for multiple vertical reverse flow paths as in existing technologies. This significantly reduces the manufacturing difficulty, making the active moving catheter more cost-effective and practical, and avoiding finished product quality issues caused by poor reverse flow path manufacturing. Attached Figure Description

[0013] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a combined active traveling duct according to the present invention;

[0015] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the medium flow direction according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 3 This is another schematic diagram of the medium flow direction according to the present invention;

[0017] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the annular pipe plug used in this invention;

[0018] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the adapter used in this invention;

[0019] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the balloon tube connection in this invention;

[0020] Reference numerals: 1. Inner tube; 2. Outer tube; 3. Side hole; 4. Outer tube lumen; 5. Balloon connecting tube; 6. Inflatable balloon; 7. Annular tube plug; 8. Nozzle; 9. Transition joint; 10. Media input tube; 11. Adapter joint; 12. Annular groove; 13. Side branch; 14. Tail tube plug; 20. Power pump. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment of the invention provides a combined active traveling catheter, including an inner catheter 1, an outer catheter 2 sleeved outside the inner catheter 1, an inflatable balloon 6 disposed on the side of the head section of the inner catheter 1, and a power pump 20; the inner catheter 1 has an inner catheter lumen inside, and the outer catheter 2 has an outer catheter lumen inside, that is, the inner catheter 1 is disposed in the outer catheter lumen 4, and a gap is left between the outer side wall of the inner catheter 1 and the inner side wall of the outer catheter 2; when the inflatable balloon 6 is filled with medium, the inner catheter 1 is fixed together with the outer catheter 2 through the inflatable balloon 6 (that is, forming a mother-daughter catheter structure); the inner catheter lumen is closed at the head end to form a blind end, and a side hole 3 is also provided on the side wall of the inner catheter 1, and the inner catheter lumen and the outer catheter lumen 4 are connected through the side hole 3; the power pump 20 is connected to the tail end of the inner catheter lumen or the tail end of the outer catheter lumen 4 through a medium input pipe 10.

[0023] To solve the aforementioned problems, such as Figure 1As shown, this technical solution employs a dual-tube combination structure. The outer catheter 2 is the working tube used for subsequent operations, while the inner catheter 1 assists the outer catheter 2 in its active movement. Once the tip of the outer catheter 2 reaches the predetermined position within the patient's body, the connection between the two catheters is disconnected, and the inner catheter 1 is withdrawn from the patient's body. To connect the two catheters, an inflatable balloon 6, a technology already in use, can be employed. The inflatable balloon 6 is a commonly used medical auxiliary device. It is connected to a balloon inflation / deflation pump (not shown in the figure) located outside the patient's body via a balloon connecting tube 5. When the balloon inflation / deflation pump is operated to introduce an inflation medium (liquid or gas) through the balloon connecting tube 5 between the inner and outer walls of the balloon, the inflatable balloon 6 is inflated. Before the catheter insertion is performed, the inner catheter 1 is inserted into the outer catheter 2 and the tips of the two are aligned. Then, the inflatable balloon 6 is inflated by the balloon inflation pump. The inflatable balloon 6 is squeezed between the outer side wall of the inner catheter 1 and the inner side wall of the outer catheter 2, so that the two catheters are temporarily combined together and can advance synchronously.

[0024] To achieve active catheter movement, a medium can be delivered to one of the lumens of the inner and outer catheters 4. Then, through the side port 3, the medium flows into the other lumen at its tip and exits from the tail end of the other lumen. The recoil generated by the exiting medium provides the catheter with forward propulsion, thus achieving active movement. To prevent the medium from exiting from the tip, the tip of the inner catheter 1 should be designed as a blind end, meaning the tip (the end extending into the patient's body) has no opening. This creates a single-outlet (only an outlet at the tail end outside the patient's body) tubing. Simultaneously, the tip of the outer catheter lumen 4 is sealed by an inflatable balloon 6.

[0025] There are two ways for the medium to flow in a combined active-propellant conduit: one is that the medium enters from the inner conduit lumen and exits in the opposite direction from the tail end of the outer conduit lumen (see...). Figure 2 (The direction of the arrow in the image) Another method is that the medium enters through the lumen of the outer catheter 4 and exits in the opposite direction from the tail end of the inner catheter lumen (see...). Figure 3 (The arrow in the image indicates the direction of the flow). Both flow patterns can achieve the set action, allowing the duct to advance under the action of the reverse thrust. The appropriate selection and setting can be made according to the actual situation.

[0026] Furthermore, in order to maintain uniform flow of the medium, multiple side holes 3 can be provided, and the multiple side holes 3 are evenly distributed around the circumference.

[0027] Furthermore, when the medium flow direction in the combined active traveling duct is at... Figure 2In the first configuration shown (i.e., the power pump 20 is connected to the inner conduit lumen, the medium enters through the inner conduit lumen, and exits in the reverse direction from the tail end of the outer conduit lumen 4), to improve functionality, an annular plug 7 can be fitted onto the tail section of the outer conduit lumen 4. The specific structure of the annular plug 7 is as follows: Figure 4 As shown, after the annular plug 7 is inserted into the tail end of the external catheter lumen 4, the inner catheter 1 can pass through its central opening, and its outer wall is squeezed tightly against the inner wall of the external catheter 2. Simultaneously, the annular plug 7 has a nozzle 8, which connects the external catheter lumen 4 to the outside atmosphere at its tail end (the tail end of the external catheter 2 is also located outside the patient's body). By adjusting the diameter of the nozzle 8, the speed of the reverse ejection of the medium can be changed, thereby adjusting the travel speed of the combined active-propelling catheter. Preferably, multiple nozzles 8 can be provided, evenly distributed circumferentially. In this configuration, the inner catheter lumen should also be closed at its tail end, meaning that the fluid input through the medium input tube 10 can only flow out through the outer tube lumen, forming a reaction thrust and enabling active propulsion of the catheter tip.

[0028] In addition, the medium input pipe 10 can be directly plugged into and disconnected from the tail end of the inner conduit 1. In order to facilitate the adaptation to different pipe diameters, a transition joint 9 can also be provided to achieve a reliable connection between the medium input pipe 10 and the inner conduit 1.

[0029] Furthermore, when the medium flow direction in the combined active traveling duct is at... Figure 3 The second method shown (i.e., the power pump 20 is connected to the outer conduit cavity 4, the medium enters through the outer conduit cavity 4 and is ejected in the opposite direction from the tail end of the inner conduit cavity, see [reference]) Figure 3 When the arrow points in the diagram, to facilitate connection of the medium input pipe 10, a conversion connector 11 can be fitted inside the tail section of the outer conduit lumen 4. The specific structure of the conversion connector 11 is described in [reference needed]. Figure 5 A side branch 13 is provided on its side, and the passage of the side branch 13 is connected to the annular groove 12. After the medium input pipe 10 is sleeved on the side branch 13, the medium flowing in from the medium input pipe 10 will enter the outer conduit lumen 4 through the annular groove 12. In this way, the outer conduit lumen 4 should be closed at the tail end, that is, at this time the fluid input through the medium input pipe 10 can only flow out through the inner tube lumen, forming a reaction thrust to realize the active movement of the conduit head.

[0030] At this time, a tail plug 14 can also be installed on the inner side of the tail section of the inner conduit lumen. The tail plug 14 has a through opening in the middle. By setting different opening diameters, the speed of the reverse ejected medium can also be changed, thereby adjusting the travel speed of the combined active travel conduit.

[0031] Furthermore, the balloon connecting tube 5 can be directly placed in the lumen of the inner catheter, extending out from the tail end of the inner catheter 1 and connected to the balloon inflation / deflation pump. However, to avoid interference of the balloon connecting tube 5 with the flow of the medium inside the inner catheter 1, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the balloon connecting tube 5 can also be installed in the wall of the inner catheter 1 (for simplicity, a hole can be directly drilled in the wall of the inner catheter 1 to serve as the balloon connecting tube 5, with the balloon connecting tube 5 connected to an external flexible tube only at the tail end of the inner catheter 1, and then connected to the balloon inflation / deflation pump). Since the balloon connecting tube 5 only requires one opening and is only used to provide the inflation medium for the inflatable balloon 6 and does not participate in the travel of the catheter, its processing quality requirements are not high, and it will not increase the processing difficulty and cost as the reverse flow path of the existing technology. During processing, care should be taken to ensure that the balloon connecting tube 5 and the side hole 3 are staggered in the circumferential direction to avoid them from connecting.

[0032] Furthermore, a detection device, such as an ultrasonic probe or an optical probe, can be installed at the tip of the external catheter 2 as needed. In this case, the external catheter 2 can be an existing ultrasonic-guided catheter or an optical-guided catheter. The detection device can detect the internal morphology of the cavity and transmit the cavity morphology information back to the detection device host, so that the operator can see the real-time morphology of the cavity on the detection device host and grasp the current position of the tip (or distal end) of the external catheter 2 in the body, realizing visual operation. In addition, a tip direction adjustment structure (such as the catheter tip direction adjustment structure disclosed in CN120771429A) can be set in the inner catheter 1 to realize the turning of the tip of the inner catheter 1, which is more convenient for application.

[0033] In this technical solution, the specific structure can be implemented in the following two ways, and the appropriate configuration can be made according to actual needs during application:

[0034] (1) First implementation: The medium input pipe 10 is connected to the end of the inner conduit lumen, so that the medium enters from the inner conduit lumen and is ejected from the end of the outer conduit lumen 4;

[0035] (2) Second implementation: The medium input pipe 10 is connected to the tail end of the outer conduit lumen 4, so that the medium enters from the outer conduit lumen 4 and is ejected from the tail end of the inner conduit lumen.

[0036] In the above detailed description, various features are combined together in a single embodiment to simplify this disclosure. This approach to disclosure should not be construed as reflecting an intention that embodiments of the claimed subject matter require more features than are explicitly stated in each claim. Rather, as reflected in the appended claims, the invention is presented with fewer features than all of the features of the single disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the appended claims are hereby explicitly incorporated into the detailed description, wherein each claim stands alone as a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0037] The disclosed embodiments have been described above to enable any person skilled in the art to implement or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments given herein, but is consistent with the broadest scope of the principles and novel features disclosed in this application.

[0038] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A modular active travel conduit, characterized in that, The catheter comprises an inner catheter (1), an outer catheter (2) sleeved outside the inner catheter (1), a balloon (6) provided at the side of the head section of the inner catheter (1), and a power pump (20); The inner catheter (1) has an inner catheter lumen, and the outer catheter (2) has an outer catheter lumen (4); When the balloon (6) is filled with medium, the inner catheter (1) is connected with the outer catheter (2) through the balloon (6); The inner catheter lumen is closed at the head end to form a blind end, and a side hole (3) is further provided on the side wall of the head section of the inner catheter (1), and the inner catheter lumen and the outer catheter lumen (4) are communicated through the side hole (3); The power pump (20) is connected with the tail end of the inner catheter lumen or the tail end of the outer catheter lumen (4) through a medium input pipe (10).

2. The modular active progression catheter of claim 1, wherein, The side hole (3) is a plurality of side holes (3) which are circumferentially distributed.

3. The modular active progression catheter of claim 1, wherein, In the case where the power pump (20) is connected with the inner catheter lumen, the tail section of the outer catheter lumen (4) is sleeved with an annular pipe plug (7), and a through spray hole (8) is formed in the annular pipe plug (7).

4. The modular active progression catheter of claim 3, wherein, The spray hole (8) is a plurality of spray holes (8) which are circumferentially distributed.

5. The modular active progression catheter of claim 1, wherein, In the case where the power pump (20) is connected with the outer catheter lumen (4), the tail section of the outer catheter lumen (4) is sleeved with a conversion joint (11), and a side branch (13) for connecting the medium input pipe (10) is provided at the side of the conversion joint (11).

6. The modular active progression catheter of claim 5, wherein, The tail section of the inner catheter lumen is sleeved with a tail pipe plug (14), and a through opening is formed in the middle of the tail pipe plug (14).

7. The modular active progression catheter of claim 1, wherein, The balloon (6) is connected with a balloon inflation pump through a balloon connecting pipe (5), and the balloon connecting pipe (5) is arranged in the pipe wall of the inner catheter (1) or in the inner catheter lumen.

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