Reusable Catheter Gripper Segments Disposable Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing catheter assemblies are lengthy, increasing storage space and waste size due to the need for a gripping portion that becomes obsolete after one use.
Innovation Solution
A catheter system comprising a disposable catheter assembly and a reusable catheter gripper, where the catheter assembly is attachable and detachable from the gripper, allowing the assembly to be configured as a disposable product and the gripper as a reusable product, thereby reducing the overall length and storage space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the needle hub is formed long enough to be gripped by an operator, then the ease of operation is improved, but the length of the catheter assembly increases and storage space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter system is divided into two separate components: a disposable catheter assembly and a reusable catheter gripper. The gripping function is segmented from the catheter assembly and placed in the reusable gripper, allowing the catheter assembly to be shorter while the gripper provides the necessary gripping length for operator comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter gripper acts as an intermediary component that interfaces between the operator's hand and the catheter assembly. Instead of the operator directly gripping the catheter assembly, they grip the catheter gripper, which then manipulates the catheter assembly, thus solving the contradiction between ease of operation and assembly length.
2Ease of operation
If the needle hub is formed long enough to be gripped by an operator, then the ease of operation is improved, but the volume of waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the disposable catheter assembly from the reusable catheter gripper. The gripping function is assigned to the reusable gripper, allowing the disposable catheter assembly to be minimized in size for reduced waste volume while the reusable gripper maintains adequate gripping length for operator comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter assembly is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after single use, while the catheter gripper is designed as a reusable component that can be sterilized and used multiple times. By placing the gripping function in the reusable gripper rather than the disposable assembly, the waste volume from each procedure is minimized.
3Ease of operation
If a gripping portion is provided in the catheter assembly, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping portion is extracted from the catheter assembly and placed in a separate catheter gripper device. This removes the complexity of designing and manufacturing a gripping structure within the disposable catheter assembly, simplifying the assembly while maintaining ease of operation through the separate reusable gripper.
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter system includes: a catheter assembly that includes: an inner needle having a needle tip at a distal end thereof, a hollow needle hub fixed to a proximal end section of the inner needle, a catheter shaft into which the inner needle is inserted, and a catheter hub having the inner needle inserted thereinto, wherein the catheter hub is fixed to a proximal end section of the catheter shaft; and a catheter gripper that is attachable to and detachable from the catheter assembly, wherein the catheter gripper includes: a gripping member, and an attaching/detaching mechanism configured to attach and detach a proximal end section of the needle hub to and from a first end section of the gripping member.