Catheter Centering Device Legs Radial Expansion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vascular catheters using suction often misbehave by leaning against vessel walls, which can block or obstruct access to the ports/openings leading to the catheter lumen, preventing effective fluid administration or collection during medical procedures like hemodialysis.

Innovation Solution

A centering device is secured to the distal end of the catheter, featuring a plurality of legs that fan radially outward from the elongated tube, providing a cavity to prevent the distal end and openings from contacting the vessel wall. The legs are formed from a flexible, resilient material like carbothane, with a central portion extending from the fixed end to the second end, and are integral with the tube, ensuring secure attachment without additional mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the catheter is made simple and flexible for easy insertion, then the catheter can be easily inserted into the vessel, but the catheter tends to lean against the vessel wall and block access to openings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of insertionVSAvoidaccess to openings

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is divided into multiple functional segments: the elongated tube for insertion, the centering device with legs for positioning, and the opening structure for fluid access. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, preventing the catheter from leaning against the vessel wall while maintaining ease of insertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The centering device acts as an intermediary structure between the catheter tube and the vessel wall. It includes a centering portion with legs that extend from the tube to create spacing, preventing direct contact between the catheter openings and the vessel wall, thus maintaining reliable access while allowing smooth insertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the catheter structure is simplified, then manufacturing is easier and cost is lower, but the catheter cannot prevent contact with vessel wall

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidcontact with vessel wall

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The centering device is merged with the catheter tube as an integral structure. The legs are formed as continuous portions of the tube wall, eliminating the need for separate components or complex assembly mechanisms. This merging maintains manufacturing simplicity while effectively preventing contact between the catheter openings and the vessel wall.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter tube and centering device legs are formed from flexible materials that can be molded into the required geometry. The legs are created by forming continuous portions of the tube wall, using flexible material properties to achieve the centering function without complex rigid structures, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while preventing vessel wall contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Volume of moving object

If the catheter has a compact structure, then it can be easily delivered through the vessel, but it cannot maintain distance from the vessel wall

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatheter profileVSAvoiddistance from vessel wall

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The centering device legs are designed to be dynamically positionable. They can be in a compressed state during insertion to maintain a compact catheter profile, and then expand to create spacing from the vessel wall when needed. This dynamic capability allows the catheter to transition between compact delivery and effective centering positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The centering device legs are nested within or adjacent to the catheter tube during insertion, creating a compact overall profile. When deployed, the legs extend from the tube to create spacing, effectively nesting the centering function within the catheter structure while maintaining a compact delivery profile.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 centering device effectively maintains the distal end and openings away from the vessel wall, preventing blockages and ensuring unobstructed access for fluid administration and collection, reducing the risk of injury and enhancing procedural efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The legs are formed from a flexible, resilient material like carbothane, with a central portion extending from the fixed end to the second end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11529497B1Centering device for a catheter

Publication Date: 2022.12.20 ORLANDO HEALTH INC

AI summary

A catheter may include an elongated tube enclosing at least one catheter lumen, and a centering device coupled to a distal end of the elongated tube, wherein the centering device includes a plurality of legs. Each leg of the plurality of legs may include a first end fixed to an outer surface of the elongated tube. Each leg of the plurality of legs may include an outward bias such that a central portion of each leg of the plurality of legs is spaced radially outward from the elongated tube when the centering device is in an expanded state.