Catheter Add-on Cutting Mechanism for Safe Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

The improper removal of urinary catheters, particularly when the balloon is inflated, often results in tissue damage and bleeding due to manual pulling or accidental disengagement, which is a significant clinical issue in various medical specialties.

Innovation Solution

An add-on apparatus is placed on the catheter, featuring a cutting mechanism that severs the proximal portion from the distal portion in response to a pre-defined threshold force, preventing further tissue damage and bleeding by ensuring controlled disengagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the balloon is inflated to anchor the catheter in place, then the catheter stability is improved, but the risk of tissue damage and bleeding during removal increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatheter stabilityVSAvoidtissue damage and bleeding

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter system is divided into two separable parts: the distal portion with the balloon that remains in the body, and the proximal portion that can be removed. The cutting mechanism creates a clean separation between these segments, allowing the balloon to remain anchored while the external portion is safely removed without causing tissue damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting mechanism acts as an intermediary device that facilitates controlled separation between the catheter portions. It includes a blade housed within a resilient material or flexible sheath that activates at a predetermined force threshold to sever the catheter, preventing uncontrolled pulling that would cause tissue damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If manual pulling is used to remove the catheter, then the removal process is simple, but tissue damage and bleeding occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremoval simplicityVSAvoidtissue damage and bleeding

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting mechanism is pre-installed on the catheter before use. When removal is needed, the user simply applies pulling force to the external portion, and the pre-positioned blade automatically activates at the predetermined force threshold to sever the catheter, eliminating the need for complex manual removal procedures while preventing tissue damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter removal process becomes self-regulating through the cutting mechanism. When the predetermined force is applied during removal attempts, the mechanism automatically activates to sever the catheter at the intended separation point, preventing excessive force that would cause tissue damage without requiring additional manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the catheter is severed at high force, then the cutting mechanism activates, but uncontrolled pulling causes tissue damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting mechanism activationVSAvoidtissue damage and bleeding

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting mechanism is designed with a predetermined force threshold parameter that determines when activation occurs. The resilient material or flexible sheath is calibrated to allow normal catheter movement and insertion forces while activating the blade only when the pulling force exceeds the specific threshold during removal attempts, ensuring reliable activation without causing tissue damage from uncontrolled high-force pulling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3049142B1Catheter add-on and methods of producing and using same

Publication Date: 2019.05.22 ANDROPHIN MEDICAL

Figure 1a
Figure 1b~1e
Figure 2a~2b

AI summary

An apparatus comprising: (a) a main body adapted to engage and retain a catheter therein at a fixed point relative to the catheter length; and (b) a cutting mechanism adapted to sever said catheter in response to a pre-defined threshold force applied along the length of the catheter.