Barbed Microcatheter Design for Uniform Fluid Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical catheters face challenges in safely and effectively delivering therapeutic fluids due to issues with catheter removal, fluid flow obstruction, difficulty in forming precise fluid passageways, and the need for biocompatible materials that maintain mechanical properties, especially for microcatheters with varying fluid egress openings and absorbable designs.

Innovation Solution

Development of a barbed microcatheter made from bioabsorbable materials with continuous fixation using barbs, allowing for precise placement without additional fixation mechanisms, and featuring fluid egress openings that can vary in size and shape along the length to ensure uniform fluid delivery and local therapeutic application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional catheters are removed after treatment, then the treatment area can be accessed again, but wound disruption and patient pain occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidwound disruption and pain

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter material undergoes a parameter change from non-absorbable to absorbable polymer composition, allowing the catheter to be gradually degraded and absorbed by the body over time, eliminating the need for removal and avoiding wound disruption and patient pain while maintaining treatment effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter is designed as a temporary, disposable device that serves its purpose during the treatment period and then naturally degrades and disappears from the body, similar to a short-living object that completes its function and is discarded without requiring removal procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Stability of the object's composition

If linear catheters are held in place with sutures or fixation devices, then catheter positioning is secured, but surgical complexity increases and fluid flow is obstructed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatheter positioning stabilityVSAvoidsurgical complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter features self-fixating barbs that automatically engage with surrounding tissue upon insertion, eliminating the need for external sutures or fixation devices. The barbs provide mechanical anchoring through the catheter's own structure, simplifying the surgical procedure while maintaining stable positioning and unobstructed fluid flow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If fine microcatheters are used for delivering therapeutic fluids, then precise fluid delivery is achieved, but forming fluid passageways becomes extremely challenging due to tight tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid delivery precisionVSAvoidfluid passageway formation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical methods of forming fluid passageways (such as drilling or punching) with a chemical etching process using controlled chemical reactions. This substitution allows for precise formation of fluid channels in fine microcatheters without the mechanical stress and tolerance issues associated with mechanical methods, enabling accurate fluid delivery while simplifying manufacturing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If non-linear catheters are used to extend around objects inside the body, then complex treatment areas can be reached, but catheter removal becomes extremely difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment area accessibilityVSAvoidcatheter removal difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is designed as a temporary, absorbable device that naturally degrades and disappears from the body after completing its treatment function. This eliminates the need for difficult removal procedures from complex anatomical locations, as the catheter simply absorbs and is eliminated by the body's natural processes while maintaining the ability to reach complex treatment areas during its service life

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS11129968B2Methods of making and implanting barbed microcatheters having fluid egress openings for infusing therapeutic fluids

Publication Date: 2021.09.28 ETHICON INC

AI summary

A method of making a barbed microcatheter having fluid egress openings includes obtaining a barbed microcatheter blank having a hollow tube with a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongated lumen that extends between the proximal and distal ends of the hollow tube, and first and second flattened regions that extend along opposite sides of the hollow tube. The method includes removing material from the first and second flattened regions of the barbed microcatheter blank to form barbs projecting outwardly from the opposite sides of the hollow tube, and using cutting elements for forming fluid egress openings in a wall of the hollow tube that are in fluid communication with the elongated lumen of the hollow tube. The method includes forming a tissue anchor that is connected with the proximal end of the hollow tube, and securing a surgical needle with the distal end of the hollow tube.