Angle-Changing Catheter Assembly for Prolonged Dwell Patency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Catheters used for prolonged periods in vasculature are prone to occlusion, narrowing, kinking, and tip adherence, necessitating additional needle sticks for blood sampling, which is painful and costly.
Innovation Solution
A catheter assembly with an expandable support mechanism that adjusts the angle of the catheter adapter relative to the skin, allowing for improved patency and alignment with vasculature, facilitated by telescoping members, protrusions, and pivoting platforms, to enhance blood draw and fluid infusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the catheter is left inserted in the patient for a prolonged period of time, then the catheter can be used for extended fluid infusion, but the catheter becomes more susceptible to narrowing, collapse, kinking, blockage, and tip adherence
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter assembly incorporates an expandable support mechanism that dynamically adjusts the angle of the catheter adapter relative to the skin surface. This dynamic adjustment allows the catheter to adapt its positioning over time, preventing narrowing, collapse, and kinking that occur with static catheter placement during prolonged dwell periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable support changes the geometric parameter of the catheter adapter angle relative to the skin. By adjusting this angle parameter, the system optimizes fluid flow characteristics and prevents blockage and tip adherence issues that arise during extended catheter insertion periods.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the catheter is left inserted in the patient for a prolonged period of time, then the catheter can be used for extended fluid infusion, but the catheter may become compromised for infusion, blood draw, or aspiration over time
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic expandable support mechanism maintains optimal catheter positioning and alignment with the vasculature throughout the dwell period. This ensures that blood draw operations remain easy and effective even after prolonged catheter insertion, preventing the catheter from becoming compromised for aspiration.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the catheter is left inserted in the patient for a prolonged period of time, then the catheter can be used for extended fluid infusion, but additional needle sticks are required for blood sampling, which is painful and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter assembly with the expandable support mechanism maintains multi-functionality throughout the dwell period, enabling both fluid infusion and blood sampling through a single catheter. This universality eliminates the need for additional needle sticks and associated materials, reducing overall material costs despite extended catheter usage.
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter assembly may include a catheter adapter, which may include a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending through the distal end and the proximal end. The catheter assembly may include a catheter secured within the catheter adapter and extending from the distal end of the catheter adapter. The catheter adapter may be configured to move between a first position and a second position. In response to the catheter adapter moving from the first position to the second position, an angle of the catheter adapter with respect to an insertion surface may be configured to increase, which may improve patency of the catheter assembly and alignment of a fluid path of the catheter assembly with vasculature of a patient.