Catheter Assembly Deflection Suppression Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Catheter assemblies face difficulties in performing puncture operations due to deflection of the inner needle and catheter, especially in longer configurations such as central venous catheters, PICC, midline catheters, and long peripheral venous catheters, which complicates the insertion process.

Innovation Solution

A catheter assembly with a deflection suppressing member that supports the inner needle and catheter during puncture, featuring a movable support portion that maintains contact with the catheter and includes a slit for the catheter operating portion to facilitate smooth advancement without hindrance, and a detachable mechanism for easy needle removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the inner needle and catheter are made relatively long for central venous catheter, PICC, midline catheter, or long peripheral venous catheter configurations, then the catheter assembly can reach deeper blood vessels, but the deflection of the inner needle and catheter becomes more prominent during puncture operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelength of inner needle and catheterVSAvoiddeflection of inner needle and catheter
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a support portion as an intermediary component between the operator's hand and the inner needle/catheter assembly. This support portion provides a stable reference point that prevents excessive deflection during puncture operations, allowing the long needle and catheter to remain stable while maintaining their necessary length for reaching deep blood vessels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support portion is positioned and fixed before the puncture operation begins. This preliminary positioning establishes a stable baseline configuration that prevents deflection during the subsequent puncture process, enabling the operator to proceed with confidence knowing the needle and catheter are stabilized in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If the deflection suppressing member is added to support the inner needle and catheter, then deflection is suppressed during puncture, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeflection suppression of inner needleVSAvoidstructure of catheter assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: the inner needle, the catheter, the hub assembly, and the support portion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while maintaining overall system stability. The support portion is a separate, dedicated component that can be optimized for its specific stabilizing function without complicating the other components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support portion is strategically positioned only at the specific location where deflection control is needed during puncture operation. Rather than making the entire catheter assembly rigid or complex, the stabilization feature is localized to the critical area, maintaining simplicity in non-critical regions while providing targeted support where required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3417902B1Catheter assembly
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 TERUMO KK
  • EP3417902B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3417902B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3417902B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A catheter assembly (10A) includes: a catheter (12); a catheter hub (14) connected to the catheter (12); an inner needle (16) removably inserted into the catheter (12); a needle hub (18) connected to the inner needle (16); and a deflection suppressing member (20) that suppresses deflection of the inner needle (16) by supporting the inner needle (16) via the catheter (12) on more toward the distal end side than the catheter hub (14). The deflection suppressing member (20) is supported so as to be movable relative to the needle hub (18) in the axial direction.