Catheter Hub Slitter for Stable Instrument Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheter systems face challenges in removing elongate tubular members without disturbing medical instruments positioned within the body, as they often require complex mechanisms or risk moving the instrument during removal.
Innovation Solution
A catheter system with a break-away tab integrated slitter that includes a hub, an elongate tubular member, and a slitter member, where the moveable member is coupled to the hub via a break-away tab, allowing for easy slitting of the tubular member as it is removed, minimizing the risk of disturbing the instrument.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an independent slitter with a blade is used to slit the elongate tubular member, then the tubular member can be removed without disturbing the medical instrument, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slitter member is integrated directly into the hub structure, merging the slitting function with the hub rather than using an independent slitter. This integration eliminates separate slitting mechanisms while maintaining the ability to slit the tubular member cleanly during removal, thus reducing device complexity while preserving instrument positioning stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub serves multiple functions: it anchors the medical instrument, guides the tubular member, and incorporates the slitter member for slitting the tubular member during removal. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate independent slitter mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable instrument positioning.
2Reliability
If a complex mechanism is used to remove the tubular member without disturbing the instrument, then the instrument positioning is maintained, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The slitter member is merged with the hub structure, creating a simple integrated system where the hub itself performs the slitting function. This eliminates complex separate mechanisms and makes the removal process more straightforward and easier to operate while maintaining instrument positioning stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub with its integrated slitter member performs the slitting function automatically as the tubular member is pulled through during removal. The system serves itself by using the removal motion to activate the slitting action, eliminating the need for additional complex mechanisms or manual intervention, thus improving ease of operation.
3Reliability
If an independent slitter with blade is used, then the tubular member can be slit during removal, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slitter member is merged into the hub structure as an integrated component rather than being manufactured as a separate independent slitter. This integration reduces the number of separate parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining the tubular member slitting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub is designed to serve multiple functions including anchoring the instrument, guiding the tubular member, and incorporating the slitter member. This multi-functional design reduces the total component count and simplifies manufacturing processes, lowering production costs while maintaining reliable slitting capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter system for positioning an instrument within a body that includes a hub defining a lumen therethrough for passage of the instrument toward the body. The catheter system also includes an elongate tubular member defining a lumen therethrough. The lumen of the elongate tubular member is in communication with the lumen of the hub for further passage of the instrument toward the body. The system also includes a slitter member that is coupled to the hub. The slitter member is disposed to slit the elongate tubular member as the elongate tubular member moves relative to the hub.