Catheter Insert Design for Positional Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Catheters often experience positional occlusion due to distal openings pressing against vessel walls, which can lead to thrombus formation and reduced treatment effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating inserts made of materials different from the catheter body, such as radiopaque metals or polymers with anti-thrombogenic agents, along the openings to reduce occlusion and improve positioning within body lumens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If distal openings are made larger to improve fluid flow, then the catheter is more prone to positional occlusion pressing against vessel walls
Solution Approach 1:
An insert is introduced as an intermediary element between the catheter body and the vessel wall. This insert includes a positioning element that contacts the vessel wall to prevent positional occlusion, while simultaneously providing a smooth, atraumatic surface that reduces thrombus formation. The insert acts as a mediator that resolves the contradiction by preventing direct contact between the catheter opening and the vessel wall, thereby maintaining both fluid flow and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If the catheter is made more radiopaque to improve positioning accuracy, then the treatment effectiveness is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than making the entire catheter body radiopaque, the radiopaque property is applied locally to specific elements such as the insert or positioning markers. This localized approach provides sufficient radiopacity for positioning accuracy during fluoroscopic guidance while avoiding the added complexity and cost of radiopaque materials throughout the entire catheter structure.
3Reliability
If inserts with anti-thrombogenic agents are used to reduce thrombus formation, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is constructed as a composite structure combining a radiopaque core material with a polymer coating that contains anti-thrombogenic agents. This composite approach allows the integration of multiple functions (positioning, thrombus prevention, and smooth surface) into a single component. The polymer coating can be applied through established manufacturing techniques such as extrusion or coating processes, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving the desired therapeutic effects.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The inserts reduce the likelihood of thrombus formation, enhance positioning accuracy using radiological techniques, and improve treatment effectiveness by providing atraumatic surfaces and therapeutic effects.
Implementation Method 1
the second material of the side insert is more radiopaque than the first material of the elongate member
Data Source
AI summary
A medical catheter includes an elongate member and an insert. The elongate member has proximal and distal end portions and defines a longitudinal axis through the proximal and distal end portions. The elongate member includes a wall at least partially defining a longitudinal lumen and defining a side opening extending radially from an outer surface of the wall to the longitudinal lumen. The insert is at least partially disposed within the side opening and at least partially defines an insert passage in fluid communication with the longitudinal lumen. The elongate member includes a first material defining the side opening and the insert includes a second material different from the first material.