Catheter Insertion Tool Guide Channel Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Catheters often buckle or kink when inserted through valves in introducers due to insufficient columnar strength, especially when coated, preventing successful traversal and causing insertion failures.
Innovation Solution
An insertion tool with a guide channel and attachment structure that aligns with the introducer's lumen, maintaining catheter columnar integrity by supporting the catheter through an arcuate guide channel and engaging the introducer's connector with a clip or interference fit, preventing kinking and abrasion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a catheter is inserted through a valve in an introducer, then the catheter can access the introducer lumen, but the catheter buckles or kinks due to insufficient columnar strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an insertion tool as an intermediary device between the operator and the catheter. This tool includes a guide channel that provides external support to the catheter during insertion, effectively acting as a mediator that transfers and reinforces the columnar strength needed to push the catheter through the valve without buckling or kinking.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion tool is attached to the introducer before catheter insertion begins. The guide channel is pre-positioned to align with the introducer lumen, creating a prepared pathway that will support the catheter as it is inserted. This preliminary setup ensures that support is already in place before the catheter encounters the valve resistance.
2Ease of operation
If the catheter is coated to reduce friction, then insertion ease is improved, but coating abrasion occurs during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The guide channel acts as an intermediary surface between the catheter and the introducer lumen walls. Instead of the catheter rubbing directly against the introducer walls (which would abrade the coating), the guide channel provides a smooth, controlled pathway that minimizes friction and protects the catheter coating from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide channel provides protective support along the entire insertion pathway before the catheter encounters any potential damage points. This pre-positioned protection cushions the catheter against abrasive forces, particularly at critical points like the valve entry and introducer lumen transitions.
3Speed
If the catheter is pushed distally with force to traverse the valve, then insertion speed is improved, but columnar integrity is lost and kinking occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion tool serves as a mediator that distributes and manages the insertion force. Rather than applying force directly to the catheter in a way that causes buckling, the guide channel provides a structured pathway that guides and supports the catheter, allowing force to be applied more evenly and effectively to推进 the catheter through the valve while maintaining its structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to an insertion tool (100) for a catheter. The insertion tool (100) engages a proximal end of an introducer (10) and includes a guide channel (106) that aligns with a lumen of the introducer (10). The guide channel (106) supports the catheter (50) to maintain columnar integrity as the catheter (50) is urged distally, past a valve and into the lumen of the introducer (10). In an embodiment, the attachment structure can be inserted past the valve to define a pathway for the catheter. Embodiments also include an elongate opening to allow lateral ingress/egress of the catheter, a segmented cylindrical shape to provide a shortened elongate opening, and an offset elongate opening to allow a rolling introduction of the catheter to the guide channel to prevent abrasion of any coatings disposed on the catheter.