Catheter Flushing Interface Valve Bi-Directional Bubble Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for flushing catheters in minimally invasive surgical procedures are inadequate in effectively removing air bubbles from catheter lumens, which can lead to complications during surgery.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an interface valve assembly with fluid supply and purge lines that allows for controlled manipulation of fluid flow, enabling bi-directional flushing to evacuate air bubbles through different purge lines, ensuring efficient removal of gases and liquids from the catheter lumen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional flushing methods are used, then the catheter can be flushed, but air bubbles cannot be effectively removed from the catheter lumen
Solution Approach 1:
The flushing system is segmented into multiple independent purge lines (first purge line and second purge line) that can be controlled separately. This allows selective evacuation of air bubbles from different sections of the catheter lumen, improving air bubble removal effectiveness while maintaining operational simplicity through independent control of each purge line.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different purge line configurations based on the flushing needs. The controllable purge lines can be activated or deactivated to manipulate fluid flow direction, enabling adaptive air bubble removal from various catheter sections without complicating the overall operation.
2Reliability
If bi-directional flushing is implemented, then air bubbles can be evacuated through different purge lines, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bi-directional flushing capability is achieved by segmenting the purge system into separate controllable purge lines rather than using a complex single-line system. Each purge line handles specific evacuation directions, simplifying the overall control logic while maintaining reliable air bubble removal through multiple pathways.
3Productivity
If fluid flow is manipulated to flow in different directions, then air bubbles can be removed efficiently, but the control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Fluid flow direction is dynamically controlled by selectively activating controllable purge lines based on the specific flushing requirement. This dynamic approach allows efficient air bubble removal from different catheter sections by directing fluid flow appropriately, while the modular purge line design keeps the control system manageable through independent line control.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, systems and methods for flushing a lumen of a catheter instrument to reduce or eliminate bubbles within the lumen. An interface valve is adapted for attachment to a proximal end of the catheter instrument and can receive a working instrument for insertion into the he catheter instrument lumen. A fluid supply line and purge lines are coupled to the interface valve and in fluid communication with at least a portion of the interface valve lumen. Flow of fluid (e.g. saline and a gas such as bubbles) through purge lines is controllable using clamps such that fluid flowing into the interface valve lumen can be manipulated to flow in different directions through different portions of the interface valve lumen for evacuation through different purge lines, thus allowing for purging of forward and backward flows to remove gas or bubbles from the catheter instrument lumen.