Adjustable Medical Drain Tube Securing Device with Interlocking Teeth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for securing medical drain tubes during thoracostomy procedures are cumbersome and prone to complications, including tube dislodgement, infection risk due to non-sterile sutures, and difficulty in achieving precise placement.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a receiver and a tail with adjustable teeth and center holes that form a loop to securely hold medical tubes, allowing for adjustable loop size and securement with surgical thread, and featuring antibiotic-impregnated materials to reduce infection risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical thread is used to secure the medical drain tube, then the tube can be fixed to the patient's body, but the tube may become dislodged during suturing and the suture thread may tear
Solution Approach 1:
The device pre-forms a loop structure with integrated teeth that engage with each other to create a self-locking mechanism. The loop is pre-configured to capture the tube, and the engaging teeth are pre-positioned to prevent slippage, eliminating the need for complex suturing operations during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The device introduces an intermediary structure (the loop with engaging teeth) between the tube and the patient's body. This intermediary mechanism provides the securing function without requiring direct suture attachment, thereby preventing tube dislodgement and thread tearing while maintaining ease of operation.
2Reliability
If the surgical thread is tied tightly to prevent tube movement, then the tube remains secure, but the patient cannot move without risking tube displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The loop structure with engaging teeth provides a dynamic securing mechanism that maintains firm tube fixation while accommodating patient movement. The teeth engage with each other to prevent slippage during movement, allowing the patient to move without risking tube displacement, thus resolving the contradiction between fixation stability and patient mobility.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional suture thread is used, then the procedure can be performed with simple materials, but the thread is not sterile and may lead to ascending infections
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed as a disposable sterile component that is discarded after a single use. This eliminates the infection risk associated with reusable suture threads while maintaining procedural simplicity. The sterile, single-use nature of the device ensures no ascending infections occur, and the straightforward application process keeps the procedure simple.
4Reliability
If the physician uses both hands to suture the tube, then the tube can be secured, but the tube may become dislodged during the suturing process
Solution Approach 1:
The loop structure with engaging teeth is designed to self-secure the tube without requiring complex manual suturing operations. The teeth automatically engage with each other to lock the loop in place, providing self-service securing functionality that prevents tube dislodgement during application while maintaining simple operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for releasably and adjustably securing a medical tube includes a receiver and a tail, which may be used for thoracostomy. The receiver has a receiver aperture and receiver teeth. The tail has center holes along a central axis of the device. Raised tail teeth are formed on the tail between the central axis and the tail sides. The tail teeth are arranged to engage the receiver teeth when an end of the tail is fed through the receiver aperture to form a tail loop. The receiver teeth define receiver teeth apertures that are smaller than the receiver aperture. The tail loop is adjustable to tighten around the medical tube.