Flexible Cable Catheter Desobstruction Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheter desobstruction methods are inadequate for effectively addressing obstructions in inserted catheters, often requiring immediate medical intervention and leading to complications such as sepsis and kidney failure if not resolved promptly.
Innovation Solution
A catheter desobstruction apparatus comprising a flexible cleaning cable with a disintegration tool and a drain element, along with a catheter desobstruction drive that uses a motor and controller to rotate and translate the cable, allowing for controlled removal of obstructions without damaging the catheter, and directs urine flow to a collection vessel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a syringe is used to flush the catheter, then the obstruction may be removed, but the obstruction cannot be eliminated in many cases and the catheter has to be changed under emergency conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical flushing action with an automated mechanical system comprising a drive mechanism, cable assembly, and disintegration tool that can actively break down and remove obstructions through controlled mechanical action, providing reliable obstruction removal without emergency catheter changes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces controllable mechanical parameters (rotation speed, translation speed, cutting force) through the drive mechanism and controller, allowing optimization of the desobstruction process to effectively remove various types of obstructions while preventing catheter damage
2Reliability
If the catheter is changed under emergency conditions, then the obstruction is removed, but additional complications may develop such as sepsis, kidney failure, inflammation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary desobstruction action by nursing staff before emergency conditions develop, using the automated disintegration tool to remove obstructions proactively, preventing the progression to sepsis, kidney failure, or inflammation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent empowers nursing staff to perform catheter desobstruction independently through the automated apparatus, eliminating the need for physician intervention and reducing patient exposure to harmful complications associated with delayed treatment or emergency procedures
3Productivity
If a rigid cutting tool is used to remove obstructions, then the obstruction can be removed, but the catheter may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a flexible cable assembly that can navigate the catheter lumen and a disintegration tool with localized cutting action at its tip, allowing precise obstruction removal at the blockage site while maintaining gentler interaction with the surrounding catheter walls to prevent damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic control through the drive mechanism that can adjust rotation speed and translation speed based on real-time feedback, allowing the disintegration tool to effectively break down obstructions while automatically reducing force when encountering the softer catheter material, thus protecting catheter integrity
4Ease of operation
If manual desobstruction methods are used, then the procedure can be performed, but physician supervision is required and emergency intervention is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual procedures requiring physician skill and judgment with an automated mechanical system featuring a drive mechanism, cable assembly, and controller that performs desobstruction autonomously, simplifying the procedure for nursing staff while maintaining effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service operation by nursing staff through the automated apparatus with intuitive controls and automatic operation, eliminating the need for physician supervision and reducing the complexity of human coordination while maintaining high levels of desobstruction effectiveness
Data Source
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AI summary
A catheter desobstruction system for desobstructing a catheter, comprising a catheter desobstruction apparatus 100 and a catheter desobstruction drive 200, wherein: - the proximal end of the flexible catheter cleaning cable 106 is introduced into a lumen of the catheter; - the proximal end of the flexible catheter cleaning cable is moved into the proximal direction by the actor of the catheter desobstruction drive; - if a force detected by the force sensor of the catheter desobstruction drive exceeds a predetermined threshold, the flexible catheter cleaning cable is moved in the distal direction for a first predetermined distance by the actor; - when the flexible catheter cleaning cable has been moved the first predetermined distance in the distal direction, the proximal end of the flexible catheter cleaning cable is rotated by the motor of the catheter desobstruction drive and the flexible catheter cleaning cable is moved in the proximal direction by the actor.