Catheter Distal End 3D Shape Occlusion Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drainage or infusion catheters often experience obstruction due to substances bridging in the lumen, leading to repeated procedures and potential infections, necessitating a solution to prevent occlusion and improve catheter stability.
Innovation Solution
A catheter with a deformable 3D shape at the distal end that re-forms after insertion, featuring multiple ports and optional flaps or shape memory materials to protect ports from blockage and maintain position, reducing the likelihood of obstruction and malfunctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sealed tubing with holes is used for fluid flow, then fluid can enter or exit the lumen, but substances like choroid plexus can bridge in the lumen causing obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple segments including an inner catheter and an outer catheter that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the inner catheter to be pulled back to clear obstructions while maintaining the outer catheter's position, thereby preventing complete blockage and improving reliability without compromising fluid flow capability
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter incorporates dynamic elements such as the movable inner catheter that can be repositioned during operation. The inner catheter can be pulled back distally to clear obstructions from the ports, creating a self-cleaning mechanism that maintains patency while preserving fluid flow through the sealed tubing structure
2Ease of operation
If the catheter is inserted to reach the target cavity, then drainage or infusion function is achieved, but the catheter may drift or migrate from proper position
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter uses a nested structure with an inner catheter positioned within an outer catheter. The inner catheter can be independently manipulated to clear obstructions while the outer catheter maintains stable positioning in the target cavity. This nested configuration allows the inner component to move for cleaning purposes while the outer component remains stationary, resolving the contradiction between placement capability and position stability
Solution Approach 2:
The inner catheter acts as an intermediary element that can be pulled back to clear obstructions from the ports without requiring removal of the entire catheter system. This intermediary component maintains the stability of the main catheter position while providing the necessary movement for obstruction clearance, thereby maintaining both placement ease and position stability
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
The catheter demonstrates improved resistance to occlusion and drifting, reducing the need for replacement and minimizing tissue ingrowth, thereby enhancing clinical efficacy and patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
The distal end of the tube body is deformed around itself in a 3D shape... inserting an introducer within the tube body of the catheter such that the 3D shape at the distal end is straightened, inserting the catheter into the cavity, and removing the introducer from the catheter such that when the introducer is removed, the distal end of the tube body re-forms into the 3D shape
Implementation Method 2
The catheter with a deformable 3D shape at the distal end that re-forms after insertion, featuring multiple ports and optional flaps or shape memory materials to protect ports from blockage
Data Source
AI summary
A drainage or infusion catheter and methods of use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the catheter includes a tube body having a proximal end and a distal end, and a plurality of ports arranged along the tube body from the distal end to the proximal end. The distal end of the tube body is configured to deform around itself into a substantially spiral shape so as to cover at least one of the plurality of ports located near the proximal end of the tube body. In another embodiment, a flap is configured to erupt from apertures arranged in the tube and extend outwardly around the tube body so as to cover at least one of the plurality of ports located near the proximal end of the tube body.