Sterile Catheter Package Dispensing System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing urinary catheter systems are difficult to handle due to lubrication, making it challenging for users, especially the elderly and infirm, to grip and dispense catheters from sterile closed intermittent urinary catheter systems without direct contact, which can lead to urinary tract infections and other complications.
Innovation Solution
A sterile closed intermittent urinary catheter system equipped with coordinated control devices that facilitate unidirectional movement of the catheter through a pair of separately translatable movement control devices, allowing for easy dispensing and handling by allowing the catheter to be advanced and retracted within a sterile bag without direct contact, using a handle grip for single-handed operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a lubricated catheter is retained within a sterile bag, then the catheter can be manipulated without direct human contact (improving sanitation), but the lubricated surface becomes slippery and difficult to grip (worsening ease of operation)
Solution Approach 1:
A finger pad is introduced as an intermediary element between the user's finger and the lubricated catheter surface. The finger pad provides a non-slip gripping surface that allows the user to securely hold the catheter without direct contact with the lubricated surface, thus maintaining sanitation while improving grip ability.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing system is divided into separate functional components: the sterile bag containing the catheter, the finger pad for gripping, and the movement control device for advancing the catheter. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with others.
2Device complexity
If a single movement control device is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation for advancing the catheter is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The movement control function is divided into two separate devices: a first movement control device for advancing the catheter and a second movement control device for retracting the catheter. This segmentation allows each device to be simpler in design while collectively providing comprehensive control over catheter movement in both directions.
3Ease of operation
If the catheter is pushed through the bag opening, then dispensing is achieved, but the lubricated catheter is difficult to push through the rigid package material
Solution Approach 1:
The finger pad serves as a mediator that transmits the user's pushing force more effectively to the lubricated catheter. By providing a larger contact area and reduced friction between the finger and catheter, the finger pad enables the user to push the catheter through the rigid package material with less effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic manipulation of the catheter through the bag opening using the finger pad and movement control devices. The catheter can be advanced and retracted in controlled movements, adapting to the rigidity of the package material and enabling successful dispensing.
Data Source
AI summary
A packaged closed intermittent urinary catheter system equipped with a dispensing system and method of dispensing a packaged catheter using the dispensing system. The dispensing system is a pair of separately translatable movement control devices, each operably engaging the catheter for permitting unidirectional movement of the catheter in a first axial direction relative to the movement control devices. The movement control devices may be mounted to a hand-grippable assembly with a sliding or pivoting movable member reciprocal to a base member. Alternatively, the movement control devices are mounted to a coupling member and a spring member biases them apart.