Infusion Catheter Coiled Member Uniform Fluid Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infusion catheters face challenges in delivering fluid medication uniformly across their infusion section, especially at low pressure, due to fluid tendancy to exit through the most proximal exit holes, leading to uneven distribution and limited delivery to multiple sites within a wound area.
Innovation Solution
A catheter design featuring a coiled member that prevents fluid from exiting at low pressure but allows uniform dispensation at higher pressures by stretching and allowing fluid to 'weep' through the coils, ensuring consistent delivery throughout the infusion section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple exit holes are provided along the infusion section, then fluid can be delivered to multiple sites within the wound area, but fluid tends to exit only through the most proximal exit holes due to lower flow resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the size of exit holes along the infusion section. More distal exit holes are made larger to compensate for higher flow resistance and pressure drop, while proximal holes remain smaller. This non-uniform hole sizing ensures that each exit hole along the catheter delivers fluid at a more uniform rate, achieving both multi-site delivery and uniform distribution.
2Productivity
If flow rate or pressure is increased to overcome the tendency of fluid to exit only through proximal holes, then fluid will flow through more exit holes, but medication must be delivered slowly to avoid toxicity and side effects
Solution Approach 1:
By making distal exit holes larger than proximal holes, the patent enables uniform fluid distribution through all exit holes at low flow rates and pressures. This eliminates the need to increase flow rate or pressure to achieve multi-site delivery, thereby avoiding medication toxicity and side effects while maintaining safe delivery rates.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional catheter design with multiple lumens is used to deliver fluid to different positions, then fluid distribution is improved, but the number of lumens is limited by small catheter diameter and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single lumen into multiple flow paths by providing multiple exit holes along the infusion section. Instead of using multiple separate lumens that would require a complex manifold, the single lumen branches into multiple exit points along the catheter length, achieving multi-position fluid delivery with simpler structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent varies the size of exit holes along the infusion section to compensate for position-dependent flow resistance. This allows a single lumen to deliver fluid uniformly to multiple positions along the catheter, eliminating the need for multiple lumens and complex manifold structures while maintaining effective multi-position delivery.
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
This design ensures uniform fluid delivery across the infusion section for both high and low flow rates, maintaining effectiveness even when the catheter is bent or deformed, and allows for accurate nerve plexus location with integrated electrical stimulation for enhanced placement accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The coiled member is configured so that fluid within the coiled member and below a threshold dispensation pressure is prevented from exiting the lumen by flowing radially between the coils, and to stretch when the fluid within the coiled member is greater than or equal to the threshold dispensation pressure to permit said fluid to weep through the coils
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for delivery of a substance to an anatomical region in a body can include a catheter comprising a catheter body, and one or more electrically conductive elements supported by the catheter body and in electrical communication with one or more sources of electrical stimulus. The catheter body can comprise a lumen therein, a substantially closed distal end, and an infusion section configured to permit fluid to pass through the catheter body and that can have a length that is less than or equal to the length of the catheter body. In some embodiments, the apparatus can comprise a coiled member positioned within the lumen of the catheter body. The coiled member can comprise adjacent coils and can permit the uniform flow of the substance through one or more holes formed in the catheter body.