Medical catheter with intelligent protection function

Abstract

The utility model relates to a medical catheter with intelligent protection function relates to medical instrument technical field, include: the inner layer is by with high molecule material as the base material, load slow -release antibacterial agent's composite material is made, the middle layer is equipped with a plurality of micro sensor array, micro sensor array is used for real -time monitoring medical catheter inside temperature, pressure and pH value, the outer layer is by biocompatibility silica gel material is made, and integrated with flexible circuit, and flexible circuit is connected with a plurality of micro sensor array, is used for for each micro sensor array provides power support, and the signal transmission of each micro sensor array is given external equipment or cloud end platform, for medical staff monitoring uses. The medical catheter has solved the deficiency of traditional medical catheter in infection prevention and control and block prevention, realized all -round monitoring to catheter internal environment, provided more safe, reliable, accurate guarantee for medical process, and simple structure, easy to manufacture has broad market application prospect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of medical device technology, specifically to a medical catheter with intelligent protection function. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional medical catheters have the following shortcomings or defects: (1) Traditional medical catheters cannot monitor bacterial colonization in real time, which can easily lead to an increased risk of catheter-related infections, such as catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) and central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). These infections not only increase the patient's suffering, but also prolong the hospital stay and increase medical costs; (2) Traditional medical catheters lack a blockage warning mechanism and rely on manual observation, but it is often difficult to detect blockage problems in time, which can delay treatment and may lead to medical accidents; (3) Traditional medical catheters use passive protection methods, such as antibiotic coatings, which can reduce infection to a certain extent, but long-term use can easily lead to increased bacterial resistance, which brings greater challenges to treatment. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, the purpose of this application is to provide a medical catheter with intelligent protection function to solve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0004] This application provides a medical catheter with intelligent protection function, comprising: an inner layer made of a composite material with a polymer matrix and loaded with a sustained-release antibacterial agent; a middle layer with multiple micro-sensor arrays for real-time monitoring of temperature, pressure, and pH value inside the medical catheter; and an outer layer made of biocompatible silicone material and integrating flexible circuitry connected to the multiple micro-sensor arrays. The flexible circuitry provides power to each micro-sensor array and transmits signals from each micro-sensor array to external devices or a cloud platform for monitoring by medical personnel.

[0005] In some alternative implementations, each microsensor array includes multiple temperature sensors, multiple pressure sensors, and multiple pH sensors.

[0006] In some alternative implementations, multiple temperature sensors, multiple pressure sensors, and multiple pH sensors of each microsensor array are evenly distributed circumferentially along the intermediate layer, and adjacent sensors are of different types.

[0007] In some alternative implementations, the temperature sensor, pressure sensor, and pH sensor are all embedded in the intermediate layer.

[0008] In some alternative implementations, multiple micro-sensor arrays are distributed at equal intervals along the axial direction of the intermediate layer.

[0009] In some alternative implementations, a microprocessor is integrated into the flexible circuit to perform local data preprocessing.

[0010] In some alternative implementations, the microprocessor is used to determine the risk of biofilm formation when a pH value exceeding 7.5 is detected, and sends an early warning signal to an external device or cloud platform via flexible circuitry.

[0011] In some alternative implementations, the microprocessor is used to determine the risk of medical catheter blockage or dislodgement when a sudden change in pressure is detected, and sends an early warning signal to an external device or cloud platform via flexible circuitry.

[0012] In some alternative implementations, the microprocessor is used to determine that there is a risk of infection when an abnormal increase in temperature is detected and the pressure continues to exceed a preset value. It then acts on the inner layer through the flexible circuit to increase the release of the slow-release antibacterial agent, or sends a signal to an external device or cloud platform through the flexible circuit to adjust the drug delivery rate.

[0013] In some alternative implementations, the insertion end of the inner layer protrudes beyond the insertion ends of the middle and outer layers, and the insertion end of the middle layer protrudes beyond the insertion end of the outer layer.

[0014] Based on the above technical solutions, the medical catheter with intelligent protection function provided in this application significantly improves the antibacterial performance of the medical catheter by using a drug-loaded polymer material in the inner layer and incorporating a sustained-release antibacterial agent. This effectively reduces the risk of complications caused by catheter infection during medical procedures. The micro-sensor array in the middle layer can comprehensively and in real-time monitor the internal pressure, temperature, and pH value of the medical catheter, providing accurate data support for medical personnel to help them adjust medical plans in a timely manner and ensure patient safety. The outer layer uses a biocompatible silicone layer and integrates flexible circuitry, which not only improves the biocompatibility of the medical catheter and reduces irritation and rejection reactions to the human body, but also enhances the stability and durability of the medical catheter and extends its service life. The medical catheter with intelligent protection function provided in this application solves the shortcomings of traditional medical catheters in infection control and blockage prevention, realizing comprehensive monitoring of the internal environment of the medical catheter, providing safer, more reliable, and more accurate protection for the medical process. Moreover, it has a simple structure, is easy to manufacture, and the materials and components used are readily available on the market, showing broad market application prospects. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this application and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the transparent structure of a medical catheter with intelligent protection function provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of a medical catheter with intelligent protection function provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0018] Reference numerals: 100, medical catheter; 10, inner layer; 20, middle layer; 30, outer layer; 40, micro-sensor array; 41, temperature sensor; 42, pressure sensor; 43, pH sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The specific embodiments of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. Based on the description of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0020] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "setup," "installation," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0021] The terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “center,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “clockwise,” “counterclockwise,” “axial,” “radial,” and “circumferential” indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product is in use. They are used only for the convenience of description and simplification, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0022] The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., are used only to distinguish elements with similar properties, and do not indicate or imply relative importance or a specific order, unless otherwise explicitly stated or limited.

[0023] The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” or any other variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase “comprising one…” does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element.

[0024] The term "multiple" means two or more (including two).

[0025] The term "and / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent three cases: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone.

[0026] The terms "an embodiment," "as an example," and "in one implementation" refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which may be included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. These illustrative expressions do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor are they independent or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive with other embodiments. Where there is no conflict, the embodiments and features described in these embodiments can be combined in a suitable manner.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the perspective structure of a medical catheter 100 with intelligent protection function provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view of a medical catheter 100 with intelligent protection function provided in this application embodiment is shown below. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this application embodiment provides a medical catheter 100 with intelligent protection function, including an inner layer 10, a middle layer 20, and an outer layer 30, which are all tubular structures arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside.

[0028] The inner layer 10 is made of a composite material with a polymer matrix and loaded with a slow-release antibacterial agent, which can effectively inhibit bacterial growth, improve the antibacterial performance of the medical catheter 100, and effectively reduce the risk of complications caused by medical catheter infection during medical treatment.

[0029] The polymer material can be polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polylactic acid, or polyvinyl chloride, etc., and can be selected according to the performance requirements and clinical application scenarios of the medical catheter 100. The sustained-release antibacterial agent can be nano-silver, chlorhexidine, vancomycin, antimicrobial peptides (such as LL-37), photosensitizing antibacterial agents (such as TiO2), or enzyme-responsive antibacterial agents (such as hyaluronidase-sensitive microspheres), etc., and can be selected according to the antibacterial target, release mechanism, and clinical application scenarios of the medical catheter 100.

[0030] The intermediate layer 20 is equipped with multiple micro-sensor arrays 40, which are used to monitor the temperature, pressure and pH value inside the medical catheter 100 in real time, providing accurate data support for medical staff, thereby helping them to adjust the medical plan in a timely manner and ensure that all indicators of the medical catheter 100 are within the safe range during use, thus protecting the safety of patients.

[0031] Each micro-sensor array 40 includes a temperature sensor 41, a pressure sensor 42, and a pH sensor 43. The temperature sensor 41 monitors the temperature changes of the medical catheter 100 and its surrounding environment in real time, ensuring the temperature remains within a suitable range to avoid harm to the patient due to abnormal temperatures. The temperature sensor 41 can be a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) integrated temperature sensor, characterized by high accuracy and low power consumption. The pressure sensor 42 monitors the pressure changes inside the medical catheter 100 in real time, preventing excessively high or low pressure from affecting the normal operation of the medical catheter 100 and ensuring the safety of the medical process. The pressure sensor 42 can be a piezoresistive or capacitive pressure sensor. Piezoresistive pressure sensors are characterized by high sensitivity, fast response, and low integration difficulty, while capacitive pressure sensors are characterized by low power consumption, resistance to electromagnetic interference, and a wide measurement range. pH sensor 43 is used to monitor the pH inside medical catheter 100 in real time and maintain the stability of the internal environment of medical catheter 100. This is crucial for certain medical procedures that require a specific pH environment. pH sensor 43 can be an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor, which has the characteristics of fast response, small size and low integration difficulty.

[0032] As an example, such as Figure 1 As shown, multiple micro-sensor arrays 40 are evenly spaced along the axial direction of the intermediate layer 20. Each micro-sensor array 40 includes multiple temperature sensors 41, multiple pressure sensors 42, and multiple pH sensors 43 uniformly embedded in the circumference. The multiple temperature sensors 41, multiple pressure sensors 42, and multiple pH sensors 43 are uniformly distributed in the circumference of the intermediate layer 20, and adjacent sensors are of different types.

[0033] The outer layer 30 is made of biocompatible silicone material, which is harmless to the human body and can be well integrated with human tissues, improving the biocompatibility of the medical catheter 100, reducing irritation and rejection reactions to the human body, and also enhancing the stability and durability of the medical catheter 100, extending its service life.

[0034] The outer layer 30 integrates flexible circuitry, which connects to the individual sensors of the micro-sensor array 40. This flexible circuitry provides power to the sensors and transmits their signals to external devices or a cloud platform for monitoring by healthcare professionals. Specifically, the flexible circuitry can be directly bonded to the electrodes of the individual sensors in the micro-sensor array 40 via micrometer-scale metal wires (such as gold or copper traces) to ensure low-impedance signal transmission.

[0035] The flexible circuit integrates a microprocessor, enabling local data preprocessing.

[0036] As an example, based on the signal from pH sensor 43, when the detected pH value exceeds 7.5, the microprocessor determines that there is a risk of biofilm formation. This triggers an early warning mechanism, sending a warning signal via flexible circuitry to external devices or a cloud platform to notify medical personnel for timely intervention and to prevent bacterial colonization and infection. This biofilm early warning function is designed based on the principle that biofilm formation is often accompanied by changes in environmental pH. By monitoring pH values ​​in real time, it can provide early warning of biofilm formation.

[0037] As an example, based on the signal from pressure sensor 42, when a sudden pressure change is detected, the microprocessor determines that there is a risk of blockage or dislodgement of the medical catheter 100. It then sends an early warning signal to an external device or cloud platform via flexible circuitry, notifying medical personnel to check the situation promptly. The microprocessor also utilizes embedded algorithms (such as moving standard deviation calculation) to distinguish between steady fluctuations (such as physiological changes caused by breathing / heartbeat) and sudden anomalies (such as pressure changes caused by catheter blockage or dislodgement) to reduce false alarms. This pressure change detection function helps medical personnel promptly identify and address potential medical risks, ensuring patient safety.

[0038] As an example, based on signals from temperature sensor 41 and pressure sensor 42, when an abnormal temperature increase (e.g., >38℃) is detected and the pressure continues to exceed a preset value (e.g., 20 mmHg for 5 minutes), the microprocessor determines that there is a risk of infection. It can then use a flexible circuit to apply electrical, thermal, acoustic, or other stimuli to the inner layer 10 to increase the release of the sustained-release antibacterial agent, thus addressing the potential infection risk. The specific action of the flexible circuit can be selected based on the material of the inner layer 10. Furthermore, the flexible circuit can send signals to external devices or a cloud platform to adjust the drug delivery rate. This active intervention function, combined with the passive release of the sustained-release antibacterial agent by the inner layer 10, provides dual protection for the medical process.

[0039] In addition, the insertion ends of the inner layer 10, the middle layer 20, and the outer layer 30 are usually flush, which facilitates a smooth transition when the medical catheter 100 is inserted into the human body, reduces tissue damage, and avoids interlayer peeling of the layered structure under immersion in body fluids, making it suitable for routine clinical applications.

[0040] For some clinical applications, the insertion ends of the inner layer 10, middle layer 20, and outer layer 30 can also adopt a layered protruding structure. As an example, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the insertion end of the inner layer 10 protrudes beyond the insertion ends of the middle layer 20 and the outer layer 30. When the medical catheter 100 is inserted into the tissue, the insertion end of the inner layer 10 can first contact the tissue to release a sustained-release antibacterial agent, achieving immediate protection. Furthermore, the sustained-release antibacterial agent at the insertion end can be released more concentratedly, enhancing the antibacterial effect. The insertion end of the middle layer 20 protrudes beyond the insertion end of the outer layer 30. When the medical catheter 100 is inserted into the tissue, the micro-sensor array 40 located at the insertion end of the middle layer 20 can be closer to the monitoring target, improving monitoring sensitivity.

[0041] It should be noted that the materials and sensor elements in the medical catheter 100 provided in this application are readily available from the market, and this application does not contain any improvements to the materials themselves.

[0042] In summary, the intelligent protective medical catheter provided in this application significantly improves the antibacterial performance of the medical catheter by using a drug-loaded polymer material in the inner layer and incorporating a sustained-release antibacterial agent. This effectively reduces the risk of complications caused by catheter infection during medical procedures. The micro-sensor array in the middle layer can comprehensively and in real-time monitor the internal pressure, temperature, and pH value of the medical catheter, providing accurate data support for medical personnel to adjust medical plans in a timely manner and ensure patient safety. The outer layer uses a biocompatible silicone layer and integrates flexible circuitry, which not only improves the biocompatibility of the medical catheter and reduces irritation and rejection reactions in the human body, but also enhances the stability and durability of the medical catheter and extends its service life. The intelligent protective medical catheter provided in this application solves the shortcomings of traditional medical catheters in infection control and blockage prevention, achieving comprehensive monitoring of the internal environment of the medical catheter. This provides a safer, more reliable, and precise guarantee for the medical process. Furthermore, it has a simple structure, is easy to manufacture, and the materials and components used are readily available on the market, making it a promising candidate for widespread market applications.

[0043] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various variations or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this application, and these should all be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A medical catheter with intelligent protection function, characterized in that, include: The inner layer is made of a composite material with a polymer matrix and a loaded slow-release antibacterial agent; The middle layer is equipped with multiple micro-sensor arrays, which are used to monitor the temperature, pressure, and pH value inside the medical catheter in real time. The outer layer is made of biocompatible silicone material and integrates flexible circuitry. The flexible circuitry is connected to multiple micro-sensor arrays and is used to provide power to each of the micro-sensor arrays and to transmit the signals of each of the micro-sensor arrays to external devices or cloud platforms for monitoring by medical personnel.

2. The medical catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the aforementioned microsensor arrays includes multiple temperature sensors, multiple pressure sensors, and multiple pH sensors.

3. The medical catheter according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the micro-sensor arrays has multiple temperature sensors, multiple pressure sensors, and multiple pH sensors evenly distributed circumferentially along the intermediate layer, and adjacent sensors are of different types.

4. The medical catheter according to claim 2, characterized in that, The temperature sensor, the pressure sensor, and the pH sensor are all embedded in the intermediate layer.

5. The medical catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple arrays of microsensors are distributed at equal intervals along the axial direction of the intermediate layer.

6. The medical catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible circuit integrates a microprocessor, which is used to perform local data preprocessing.

7. The medical catheter according to claim 6, characterized in that, The microprocessor is used to determine the risk of biofilm formation when the pH value exceeds 7.5, and sends an early warning signal to external devices or a cloud platform through the flexible circuit.

8. The medical catheter according to claim 6, characterized in that, The microprocessor is used to determine the risk of blockage or dislodgement of the medical catheter when a sudden change in pressure is detected, and sends an early warning signal to an external device or cloud platform through the flexible circuit.

9. The medical catheter according to claim 6, characterized in that, The microprocessor is used to determine the risk of infection when it detects an abnormal increase in temperature and a pressure that continues to exceed a preset value. It then acts on the inner layer through the flexible circuit to increase the release of the slow-release antibacterial agent, or sends a signal to an external device or cloud platform through the flexible circuit to adjust the drug delivery rate.

10. The medical catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insertion end of the inner layer protrudes beyond the insertion ends of the middle layer and the outer layer, and the insertion end of the middle layer protrudes beyond the insertion end of the outer layer.

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