Adaptive Catheter Securement Device With Segmented Retainer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for securing catheters using tape lead to complications such as infections, motion-related issues, skin irritation, and clinical flexing or kinking, while alternative devices are costly, uncomfortable, and not adaptable to various catheter types.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive medical article securement device with a flexible, segmented substrate that forms a central channel upon deformation, featuring living hinges and anchor regions with adhesive for securement to the skin, and engaging elements to inhibit movement of medical articles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tape is used to secure catheters, then the catheter can be maintained in position, but it retains dirt and contaminants at the insertion site leading to infections
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the tape element from the securement system entirely, replacing it with a mechanical retention device that uses a retainer body with engagement features to hold the catheter without adhesive contact at the insertion site, thereby removing the source of contaminant retention while maintaining position stability
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer body acts as an intermediary between the catheter and the skin, providing mechanical retention through engagement features while preventing direct adhesive contact with the insertion site, thus mediating the securement function without the harmful effects of tape
2Reliability
If tape is used to secure catheters, then the catheter can be held in place, but it fails to limit catheter movement in one or more directions contributing to motion-related complications
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer body incorporates asymmetric engagement features including a first engagement feature that prevents movement in a first direction and a second engagement feature that prevents movement in a second direction, providing multi-directional restraint that symmetric tape cannot achieve
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer body may include a curved or contoured surface that conforms to the catheter shape, providing mechanical restraint against movement while distributing contact forces to prevent localized damage and enhance stability
3Reliability
If tape is used to secure catheters, then the catheter can be retained, but tape removal causes undesired catheter movement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the adhesive tape component that causes movement during removal, replacing it with a mechanical retainer that can be detached without pulling on the catheter, thereby eliminating the harmful effect of removal-induced movement while maintaining retention capability
Solution Approach 2:
The securement system is segmented into a retainer body that remains on the skin and a separate catheter, allowing the retainer to be removed independently without exerting force on the catheter, thus preventing movement during removal while maintaining retention during use
4Reliability
If tape is used to secure catheters, then the catheter can be held, but it causes skin irritation and adhesive residue build-up
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the adhesive tape element from the securement system, replacing it with a mechanical retainer that provides securement without adhesive contact, thereby eliminating skin irritation and adhesive residue build-up while maintaining catheter retention
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer body is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component that can be removed without leaving residue, eliminating the long-term harmful effects of adhesive residue accumulation and skin irritation associated with repeated tape application and removal
5Reliability
If tape is used to secure catheters, then the catheter can be retained, but it allows medical lines to flex or kink leading to clinical complications
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer body incorporates asymmetric engagement features including a first engagement feature that prevents movement in a first direction and a second engagement feature that prevents movement in a second direction, providing multi-directional restraint that symmetric tape cannot achieve
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer body may include a curved or contoured surface that conforms to the catheter shape, providing mechanical restraint against movement while distributing contact forces to prevent localized damage and enhance stability
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 adaptive securement device provides a secure, comfortable, and cost-effective solution that fits various medical article types, reducing complications and improving patient safety by minimizing skin irritation and movement-related issues.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible, preferably segmented, substantially flat substrate configured to deform to form a central channel about a channel axis upon application of a deforming force
Implementation Method 2
The lower, or bottom, surface of each of the first and second anchor regions is coated with an adhesive
Data Source
AI summary
Adaptive medical article securement devices are described. These devices retain a medical article, for example, a catheter hub or a connector fitting, in position on a patient's body and reduce or inhibit longitudinal or other movement of the medical article. The securement device includes an adaptive retainer and at least one anchor pad used to attach the securement device to a patient's skin. The adaptive retainer is a flexible element that can adapt and conform to an exterior portion of the medical article to be secured, and in doing so forms a central channel in which at least a portion of the medical article becomes disposed. In some embodiments the retainer includes at least one engaging element that can engage a retention element disposed on the medical article. The engaging element, alone or in conjunction with the retention element and/or the shape (e.g., tapering) of the central channel, reduces or inhibits longitudinal motion of the medical article in the central channel.