Catheter Holding Support for Easy Removal and Low-Plastic Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current PTCA catheter packaging, such as plastic hoses, are cumbersome to handle and environmentally inefficient, with plastic constituting a significant portion of the product's material and requiring complex catheter extraction.
Innovation Solution
A provisioning apparatus with a support and holding device featuring at least three spatially separate holding elements arranged along a holding circle, including holding and retaining tabs, to securely hold a rolled-up catheter, allowing easy access to both ends and reducing material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plastic hose is used to store and transport catheters, then the catheter is securely protected, but the packaging becomes cumbersome to handle and requires complex catheter extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device is segmented into multiple independent holding elements (at least three) that are spatially separate from one another. Each holding element independently engages with the catheter at different positions along its rolled-up form, allowing secure storage while enabling easy removal by disengaging from individual elements sequentially.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the catheter from the rolled-up storage position by having the holding elements positioned to allow the catheter to be pulled out in its rolled state. The holding elements are arranged to engage the catheter body without requiring complete unrolling or complex extraction maneuvers, thus simplifying the removal process.
2Reliability
If a plastic hose is used for catheter packaging, then secure transport is achieved, but environmental impact increases due to high plastic content
Solution Approach 1:
The support is designed as a flat, minimal-structure base that can be made from biodegradable or recyclable materials. The holding elements are simple geometric features formed on or attached to the support, eliminating the need for extensive plastic hoses. This disposable-like approach reduces material usage while maintaining functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention reduces plastic material usage by replacing the traditional plastic hose with a minimal support structure and simple holding elements. The support can be designed to be discarded after single use or recovered/recycled, significantly reducing the environmental footprint compared to traditional plastic hose packaging that constitutes about 95% of the product's plastic content.
3Ease of manufacture
If a traditional plastic hose dispenser is used, then catheter storage is simple, but space requirements and material usage are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential functional elements needed for catheter storage and transport, eliminating the bulk of the plastic hose. The support is designed as a flat minimal structure with holding elements that provide sufficient engagement without requiring the volume and material of a traditional hose dispenser.
Solution Approach 2:
The support is designed as a flat, two-dimensional structure rather than a three-dimensional hose. This dimensional change allows the catheter to be stored in a compressed, space-efficient manner while reducing material usage. The flat support can be easily manufactured from thin sheets of material, significantly reducing the quantity of substance required.
Data Source
AI summary
A provisioning apparatus can be used for the storage and transport of catheters, for example balloon catheters for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The provisioning apparatus includes a support and a holding device arranged or formed on the support for holding a catheter rolled up in an annular manner in a storage position. The holding device includes at least three holding elements that are in engagement with the catheter in the storage position. The at least three holding elements are arranged or formed spatially separate from one another on the support.