Intravascular Catheter Flow Stagnation Control via Segmented Lumens

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Solution Overview

Problem

Intravascular catheters often create 'dead zones' in blood flow, which can lead to thrombus formation and increased risk of patient embolism due to prolonged occlusion of blood flow in arteries or veins.

Innovation Solution

The use of an imposed minimum conductance component or a controlled flow partitioning system, coupled with pressure sensors, to manage and control the flow rate of blood, preventing the formation or duration of low-flow or no-flow regions, including dead zones, by ensuring a minimum conductance level is maintained.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If occlusion devices are used to control or block flow in an artery or vein, then flow control is improved, but dead zones are created where blood flow stops

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow controlVSAvoiddead zone formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is divided into multiple lumens with different functions: a first lumen for injecting contrast material and a second lumen for maintaining blood flow. This segmentation allows the injection function to be separated from the flow maintenance function, enabling contrast injection without creating complete occlusion and thus preventing dead zone formation while maintaining effective flow control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If occlusion devices are used to block flow, then flow stagnation control is improved, but thrombus formation risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow stagnation controlVSAvoidthrombus formation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous blood flow through the second lumen during contrast injection procedures. By ensuring uninterrupted blood flow continuity, the system prevents flow stagnation and eliminates the conditions necessary for thrombus formation, thereby maintaining reliability in flow stagnation control without generating harmful thrombi.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The second lumen acts as an intermediary channel that maintains blood flow continuity during contrast injection. This intermediary structure allows the injection process to occur without directly blocking the main blood flow path, preventing thrombus formation while maintaining effective flow control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If flow rate is increased to prevent dead zones, then dead zone occurrence is reduced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedead zone occurrenceVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a second lumen dedicated to maintaining minimal blood flow during contrast injection. Rather than increasing the flow rate in the main lumen excessively, the system applies partial action by maintaining adequate flow through the secondary lumen, preventing dead zones with minimal energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11147906B2Systems and methods for flow stagnation control

Publication Date: 2021.10.19 ASIA PACIFIC MEDICAL TECH DEV CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure describes flow stagnation control components that allow improved flow control in systems including injection members, while also limiting the creation of regions of little to no flow in the vasculature, resulting in low flow zones or dead zones. The flow stagnation control components can be formed as an imposed minimum conductance component or a controlled flow partitioning system.