Gas Removal Apparatus for Catheter Bubble Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Catheter device systems face challenges in removing undesired fluids, such as air, due to fluid-trapping features and hydrophobic materials like polytetrafluoroethylene, which hinder the flushing of gas bubbles, potentially leading to complications like air embolisms.
Innovation Solution
A gas removal apparatus with a chamber that holds a liquid to flush gas bubbles from medical devices, featuring a filling surface and openings to direct the liquid flow effectively, ensuring the device is either partially or fully submerged to enhance bubble removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If hydrophobic materials like polytetrafluoroethylene are used to reduce friction, then the device benefits from low friction characteristics, but gas bubbles accumulate on the surface and become difficult to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydrophilic coating to the hydrophobic PTFE surface, inverting the surface property to be wettable. This allows flushing liquid to spread and contact bubbles effectively, solving the bubble accumulation problem while maintaining the low friction benefit of PTFE
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hydrophilic coating as an intermediary layer between the PTFE surface and the flushing liquid. This coating mediates the interaction by providing a wettable surface that facilitates liquid-bubble contact while the underlying PTFE maintains its low friction properties
2Reliability
If catheter devices are prepared for percutaneous delivery, then access to inner organs is gained with reduced surgery risk, but fluid traps are created that make bubble removal difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary bubble removal by flushing the catheter device with liquid before insertion into the patient. The filling surface and opening configuration enable effective pre-flushing to remove bubbles from fluid traps, ensuring the device is bubble-free before delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the flushing function by providing a dedicated filling surface and opening configuration that directs liquid flow through specific paths. This segmentation allows targeted flushing of different device regions, effectively clearing bubbles from complex fluid trap areas
3Reliability
If flushing liquid is used to remove gas bubbles, then bubble removal is enabled, but the flow is insufficient when surfaces are hydrophobic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface parameter from hydrophobic to hydrophilic by applying a hydrophilic coating. This parameter change increases the wettability of the surface, allowing flushing liquid to spread and flow effectively, thereby improving flushing efficiency while maintaining bubble removal capability
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 apparatus effectively removes gas bubbles from catheter devices, reducing the risk of complications by ensuring thorough flushing, even with hydrophobic materials, and facilitating safer medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a filling surface configured to receive the at least the first amount of liquid and cause the received at least the first amount of liquid to flow along the filling surface to the interior chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A gas removal apparatus and a method for removing gas bubbles from at least a part of a medical device disposed in an interior chamber of a gas removal apparatus. The gas removal apparatus includes an interior chamber, a filling surface, a first opening arranged at an end of the filling surface and that provides a first path into the interior chamber, and a second opening that provides a second path into the interior chamber. When the apparatus is arranged in a liquid receiving position, at least a portion of the at least the part of the medical device is disposed above an uppermost surface of liquid in the interior chamber, and when the apparatus is arranged in another position different from the liquid receiving position, the entirety of the at least the part of the medical device is disposed below an uppermost surface of liquid in the interior chamber.