Catheter Insertion Aid with Resilient Hinge and Groove
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheter insertion aids are complex, costly, and difficult to use, especially for individuals with reduced dexterity, as they require direct contact with the catheter, increasing the risk of contamination and urinary tract infections.
Innovation Solution
A catheter insertion aid featuring plate-like arms with a resilient hinge and grooves for clamping, allowing easy handling and reduced force requirement, minimizing direct contact with the catheter and preventing contamination, while being versatile and cost-efficient to produce.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an integrated hose member is used as insertion aid, then the catheter can be manipulated, but the package becomes complicated and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion aid is segmented into two separate functional components: a clamping mechanism with plate-like arms and a guiding mechanism with a groove. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall structure and reducing packaging complexity while maintaining ease of catheter manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion aid is extracted as a separate detachable component from the catheter assembly, rather than being integrated into the catheter or package. This allows the insertion aid to be removed after use, simplifying the final catheter structure and reducing packaging complexity while providing manual manipulation capability during insertion.
2Ease of operation
If a tubular insertion aid is arranged over the connector, then the catheter can be manipulated, but assembly becomes complicated and detachment is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion aid is divided into a clamping portion with plate-like arms and a guiding portion with a groove, connected by a resilient hinge. This segmentation allows the clamping arms to be easily attached to and detached from the catheter by simple opening and closing motions, greatly simplifying assembly and detachment compared to a sealed tubular structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient hinge provides dynamic flexibility to the insertion aid, allowing the plate-like arms to open and close easily for attachment and detachment. The resilient nature of the hinge enables the structure to adapt during assembly and disassembly operations, making the process simple and tool-free.
3Ease of operation
If direct contact with the catheter insertable part is made, then the catheter can be manipulated, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The groove in the guiding portion acts as an intermediary structure that contacts the catheter shaft during manipulation. This groove provides a controlled interface between the user's fingers and the catheter, allowing manipulation while minimizing direct contact with the sterile insertable portion of the catheter, thereby reducing contamination risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion aid is designed as a disposable component that is used once and then discarded. This eliminates the need for sterilization of the insertion aid itself and reduces the risk of cross-contamination, as each new insertion aid is used only once with a new catheter package.
4Reliability
If more force is applied to clamp the catheter, then the clamping is more secure, but it becomes harder for users with reduced dexterity
Solution Approach 1:
The plate-like arms are curved to conform to the shape of the catheter shaft, allowing the clamping force to be distributed evenly around the catheter. This curvature enables secure clamping with minimal force, as the rounded shape naturally conforms to and grips the catheter without requiring excessive compression force from the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient hinge provides self-service by automatically maintaining adequate clamping force on the catheter once the plate-like arms are closed. The elastic properties of the resilient hinge continue to exert force on the catheter without requiring continuous user input, ensuring secure clamping while minimizing the initial effort needed from users with reduced dexterity.
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 solution provides a simple, effective, and contamination-free method for handling catheters, reducing the risk of urinary tract infections and facilitating use for individuals with reduced dexterity, while being easy to manufacture and assemble.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient hinge connecting adjacent marginal edges of said plate-like arms together
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5b
Figure 6~8
AI summary
An insertion aid 1 for catheter manipulation is disclosed, particularly suited for urinary catheters, such as hydrophilic urinary catheters for intermittent use. The insertion aid comprises first and second plate-like arms 11 arranged overlying each other and with a separation distance there between, and a resilient hinge 12 connecting adjacent marginal edges 14 of the plate-like arms together. At least one of the plate-like arms is provided with a groove 13 on a clamping inner surface thereof for holding a catheter shaft. The groove extends at least partly in the same direction as, and preferably essentially parallel to, the resilient hinge, and is arranged at a distance both from the resilient hinge and from the marginal edge of the plate-like arm being opposite to the resilient hinge. Corresponding catheter set and catheter assembly are also disclosed.